The syndemic nature of food insecurity among U.S. college students: Findings from national samples

Objective: This study explores the concept of food insecurity as a syndemic among U.S. college students, examining its connections with mental health issues and socioeconomic determinants.

Participants: The data came from two national surveys of U.S. college students (N = 63,680) before and after the 2020 campus shutdown. 

Methods: Our analysis assess the prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. college students during the Covid outbreak and its impact on their mental well-being, academic performance, and various socioeconomic factors.

Results: Food insecurity affected 40.8% of U.S. college students before the Covid pandemic and 35.0% of them after it. Viewing food insecurity as a syndemic reveals its links to diminished academic performance, increased obesity rates, mental health issues, and parents’ educational background. 

Conclusions: These findings help identify at-risk students and develop interventions to alleviate food insecurity like expanding on-campus support systems, delivering emergency food aid, and reconfiguring residential dining programs.