Title:

College Students with Disabilities Report Higher Rates of Food Insecurity

Background: Data have shown that college students and persons with disabilities have increased rates of food insecurity, however food insecurity among college students with disabilities have not been explored. Objective: To characterize the prevalence of food insecurity among college students with and without disabilities at a northeastern university. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected between 2018-2020 at a public northeastern university as part of the ongoing College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey. An online survey collected self-reported data, including food security (via U.S Household Food Security Survey Module 6-Item Short Form), and disability status (affirmative responses on limited activity and/or use of specialized equipment). Chi-square assessed the differences in food insecurity prevalence among students with and without disabilities. Results: The sample (n=880) was 61.6% female, predominately white (94.5%), and had a mean age of 19±1.2 years; one out of eight students (13.3%) reported a disability; 18.8% reported low or very low food security,13.3% and 5.5% respectively, and 81.4% reported high or marginal food security, 67.6% and 13.8%, respectively. Students with a disability reported higher rates of food insecurity than those without a disability, 35.9% vs. 16.0% (p<0.001). Among students with a disability, 12.8% reported very low food security and 23.1% reported low food security, compared to 4.3% and 11.7%, respectively, among those students without disabilities. Conclusions: College students with disabilities experienced significantly greater rates of food insecurity than students without disabilities. Further research, including qualitative work, can help to understand and develop better supports for this vulnerable segment of the college population. Funding: New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Stations and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738.

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