Food Insecurity Among University Students: Evidence from Three Cross-Sectional Surveys, 2020-2024.

Background/

Objectives

Food insecurity among university students is a complex yet often overlooked issue. This issue has been exacerbated by inflation, higher living costs, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the change in the prevalence of food insecurity among Australian university students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify its sociodemographic associations.

Methods

We conducted three online cross-sectional surveys using a convenience sample of students from an Australian university from 2020 to 2024 (n = 1010). Food insecurity status was assessed using the six-item food security survey module. We analysed the data using bivariate statistics and multivariable logistic regression to assess the associations between food insecurity and sociodemographic variables.

Results

The prevalence of food insecurity has remained consistently high, at around 40%, since the pandemic, with a rising proportion reporting very low food security from 7.6% in 2020 to 16.5% in 2024. Moreover, international students are disproportionately affected, facing higher levels of food insecurity than domestic students. This study also suggests that household size emerged as a predictor factor of food insecurity, but its association differed by student status.

Conclusions

Future research should explore social determinants of health, such as housing situation, to better understand their relationship with food insecurity among university students. Our findings highlight the importance of routine and systematic monitoring of food security in higher education settings and proactive efforts should prioritise vulnerable students by providing appropriate resources and advocating for effective food policies to address food insecurity.