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A study of food insecurity amongst Australian university students
Conference presentation

A study of food insecurity amongst Australian university students

Roger Hughes
2009 University Research Conference Program Book, p.13
USC Research Conference, 2009 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 09-Nov-2009)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2009
url
http://www.usc.edu.au/View
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Abstract

Nutrition and Dietetics food insecurity university students Australia
This study aimed to: • Assess the prevalence of food insecurity amongst a University student population • Analyse the variable distribution of food insecurity by student attributes and • Explore student responses and adaptive behaviours to food insecurity. University students are a high risk population group for food insecurity. Food insecurity is a symptom of the socio-economic predicament of university students, social and employment support and variable access to healthy and culturally appropriate food. The flow on effects of food insecurity in this population group include undesirable health, development, educational and social outcomes. Cross sectional study using a questionnaire consisting of 39 food security-related and 15 demographic questions. 399 participants (full-time or part-time students) were included in the research (via a range of convenience samp ling techniques) with level of study, gender, and students from ATS I backgrounds representative of the whole student population. Food insecurity amongst University students appears at a rate higher than expected in the Australian population, but broadly consistent with people on low incomes. This data indicates that a quarter of students (1 in 4) surveyed reported food insecurity and associated hunger, and as much as 700/o reporting some degree of food insecurity. Research exp loring the prevalence and impact of food insecurity amongst this population group has important implications for societal and campus based student support.

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