Understanding food insecurity among college athletes: A qualitative study at a public university in New England

Abstract

Context Previous research at a public university in New England, where the current study takes place, has shown that approximately one-third of undergraduate students have experienced some aspect of food insecurity. More recent work at this university has revealed that students who were members of a sports team were four times more likely to be food insecure than their peers who were not on a sports team. The estimated prevalence of student athlete food insecurity from other previous research studies ranged from 14% to 32%. Objective To understand the contributing factors to food insecurity (FI) among college athletes. Design This was a qualitative study. Setting This study took place at a public university in a New England state. Patients or Other Participants Data is presented for 10 college athletes who experienced some level of FI using the USDA Six-Item Short Form. Data Collection and Analysis Data was collected using a brief demographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Results Contributing factors included a lack of time, limited campus dining options, and limited access to transportation or kitchens. Coping strategies included buying cheaper foods, skipping meals, and managing time and resources. Food insecurity negatively impacted student's athletic performance. Study athletes struggled to balance their athletic and academic schedules and obtain a diet that allowed them to meet their performance goals. Conclusions There is a need for additional and innovative programming to support food insecure student athletes.