Date Available
4-29-2021
Year of Publication
2019
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems (MSNFS)
Document Type
Master's Thesis
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Dietetics and Human Nutrition
First Advisor
Dr. Tammy J. Stephenson
Abstract
Background: College food insecurity (CFI) is a prevalent social justice and public health issue in the U.S. with the prevalence ranging between 15-59%. Though numerous quantitative studies were first conducted in the past decade, little qualitative research was conducted to assess CFI.
Objective: To explore and deeply understand the contexts of CFI at a land-grant university in Kentucky.
Methods: This qualitative study used a validated food insecurity survey tool and hour-long focus groups that were audio recorded and transcribed. Three theoretical models were combined into an adapted model and utilized for the thematic analysis.
Results: Thirty-three students participated in one of eight different focus groups. Among participants, 72.7% were female, 81.9% were undergraduate students, and 63.6% were food insecure. Access-related themes included transportation, time-related issues, awareness of resources, coping strategies and suggestions for improvements; availability-related themes consisted of city- and campus-wide availability of food choices and coping strategies; utilization-related themes constituted dietary needs and coping strategies; and stability-related themes involved disrupted element(s) of food security and their effects on well-being and academics.
Conclusion: All elements of food security need to be fulfilled to achieve a sustainable food security. For future CFI studies, the use of theoretical framework(s) is recommended.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2019.091
Funding Information
Inclusive and Excellence Grant from the UK Office of Institutional Diversity
AD Astra Grant
Recommended Citation
Oo, The Nu Sandar, "Dive into the Hunger Pool: Exploring Students’ Experiences, Coping Strategies, and Suggestions Related to Elements of Food Security at the University of Kentucky" (2019). Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems. 68.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/foodsci_etds/68