Fourteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

As university credentials become increasingly essential for achieving future economic stability the demand for higher education increases, adding to the cadre of students who struggle to afford the rising costs of universities. Consequently, food insecurity among undergraduate students has become a significant problem on university campuses. Moreover, several studies show its association with poor academic performance, although the mechanisms underlying the connection between food insecurity and academic performance remain under-specified. This paper describes the results of a qualitative study that asks how students cope with food insecurity, how they view its impact on academic performance, and how some manage to overcome the obstacles food insecurity poses. The research took place at a four-year (doctoral granting) public university in northeast USA. We interviewed twenty underperforming and twenty high-performing students who were food insecure. Semi-structured interviews ask about: their history of food insecurity, their prior academic experiences, the role of family and peer support, current living situation and academic engagement, obstacles to success, and future aspirations. Qualitative data was supplemented by data from a questionnaire that assesses social support, depression, anxiety, and stress, and household income. The analysis used NVivo12 software to identify themes associated with food insecurity, coping, and academic performance. The paper outlines the major themes that emerge from the analysis, identifying obstacles to academic performance, and factors that enable some students to overcome them.