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December 8, 2025Journal of School HealthOpen Access

Universal School Meal Policies and Perceived Stigma: Quantitative Evidence From Eight US States

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Authors

LCLeah Elizabeth ChapmanHarvard UniversityAPAnisha I. PatelPalo Alto UniversityWGWendi GoslinerUniversity of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

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Implication

Analysis shows USM reduces stigma in lower-income families while potentially increasing embarrassment for higher-income students.

Key Points

  • Overall, 11% of students reported embarrassment about school lunch, showing a clear relationship with lunch participation.
  • Low-income students benefited from USM, experiencing lower odds of embarrassment, while higher-income students faced increased stigma.
  • Analysis used generalized estimating equations to correlate school meal policies with stigma and lunch participation across eight states.
  • Results suggest that to combat stigma, USM must be supported with improved meal quality and inclusive messaging strategies.

Cite This Study

Chapman et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/693624a44fa91c937236c4e8https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.70098
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Also Consider

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  3. 3Trends in Food Sources and Diet Quality Among US Children and Adults, 2003-20182021 · 176 citations