Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHU
Research related to food insecurity (FI) among European university student populations is currently limited, especially the studies carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify possible predictors of FI among students from a Spanish public u...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/8/1836 |
| _version_ | 1797604021467348992 |
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| author | Raquel González-Pérez Laura García-Iruretagoyena Naiara Martinez-Perez Nerea Telleria-Aramburu Saioa Telletxea Sonia Padoan Liv Elin Torheim Marta Arroyo-Izaga |
| author_facet | Raquel González-Pérez Laura García-Iruretagoyena Naiara Martinez-Perez Nerea Telleria-Aramburu Saioa Telletxea Sonia Padoan Liv Elin Torheim Marta Arroyo-Izaga |
| author_sort | Raquel González-Pérez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research related to food insecurity (FI) among European university student populations is currently limited, especially the studies carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify possible predictors of FI among students from a Spanish public university, the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional observational study design was used, in which a total of 422 students completed an online survey. Results were weighted according to age and field of education. Binary logistic regressions adjusted by sex, age, and campus were applied to identify FI predictors. FI in 19.6, 2.6, and 0.7% of the population was mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. The three main predictors of FI were a decrease in the main source of income (OR, 2.80; 95% IC, 2.57–3.06), not receiving scholarships during the pandemic (OR, 2.32; 95% IC, 2.18–2.47), and living arrangements before the pandemic (not living with parents/relatives) (OR, 2.03, 95% IC, 1.89–2.18). This study found a high prevalence of FI among the students surveyed, and the strongest predictors of this FI were related to socioeconomic status. A robust and comprehensive policy response is recommended to mitigate FI in this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:40:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51a092e8e7174e3a8dbd9b56fd3c22ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:40:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-51a092e8e7174e3a8dbd9b56fd3c22ef2023-11-17T20:45:09ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-04-01158183610.3390/nu15081836Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHURaquel González-Pérez0Laura García-Iruretagoyena1Naiara Martinez-Perez2Nerea Telleria-Aramburu3Saioa Telletxea4Sonia Padoan5Liv Elin Torheim6Marta Arroyo-Izaga7Department of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, SpainDepartment of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, SpainDepartment of Nursing I, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, SpainDepartment of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, SpainDepartment of Social Psychology, Research Group in Social Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 20018 San Sebastián, SpainDepartment of Social Psychology, Research Group in Social Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 20018 San Sebastián, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), 0130 Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, SpainResearch related to food insecurity (FI) among European university student populations is currently limited, especially the studies carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify possible predictors of FI among students from a Spanish public university, the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional observational study design was used, in which a total of 422 students completed an online survey. Results were weighted according to age and field of education. Binary logistic regressions adjusted by sex, age, and campus were applied to identify FI predictors. FI in 19.6, 2.6, and 0.7% of the population was mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. The three main predictors of FI were a decrease in the main source of income (OR, 2.80; 95% IC, 2.57–3.06), not receiving scholarships during the pandemic (OR, 2.32; 95% IC, 2.18–2.47), and living arrangements before the pandemic (not living with parents/relatives) (OR, 2.03, 95% IC, 1.89–2.18). This study found a high prevalence of FI among the students surveyed, and the strongest predictors of this FI were related to socioeconomic status. A robust and comprehensive policy response is recommended to mitigate FI in this population.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/8/1836food insecurityuniversity studentscoronavirussocioeconomic factorsrisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Raquel González-Pérez Laura García-Iruretagoyena Naiara Martinez-Perez Nerea Telleria-Aramburu Saioa Telletxea Sonia Padoan Liv Elin Torheim Marta Arroyo-Izaga Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHU Nutrients food insecurity university students coronavirus socioeconomic factors risk factors |
| title | Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHU |
| title_full | Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHU |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHU |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHU |
| title_short | Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Students of a Spanish University during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project at the UPV/EHU |
| title_sort | prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among students of a spanish university during the covid 19 pandemic finescop project at the upv ehu |
| topic | food insecurity university students coronavirus socioeconomic factors risk factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/8/1836 |
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