Food insecurity, stress, and depression: a longitudinal study of midwestern college students from 2020-2022

Objective: This study assessed college food insecurity (FI) longitudinally during COVID-19. Participants: Convenient sample (n = 551) college students took an online survey between December 2020-February 2021 [Y1]. Follow-up (December 2021-February 2022) [Y2] from Y1, (n = 131). Methods: FI measured via USDA Short Form Food Security Module. Stress and depression measured via PSS-10 and CES-D. Results: Y1, 31.3% FI. FI had lower mean GPA, were less likely to tell a parent about a food shortage, but more likely to be on financial aid, part-time employed, non-white, first-generation, full-time, and live off-campus compared to food secure [FS] (p ≤ .05* for all). FI had higher mean CES-D [28.45 ± 8.38 vs. 23.50 ± 7.98] and PSS-10 [24.39 ± 3.76 vs. 23.40 ± 3.69] (p < .01*). Y2, FI increased to 39.7%. FI had higher CES-D scores [29.11 ± 10.24 vs. 21.30 ± 6.80] and PSS-10 scores [23.81 ± 3.53 vs. 22.44 ± 3.25] (p ≤ .03*). Conclusions: FI, stress, and depression worsened from Y1 to Y2 due to increased employment, financial aid, and limited familial support.