College students (those enrolled in two- and four-year postsecondary institutions) with caregiving responsibilities for children or other dependents face unique challenges balancing academic and caregiving duties. This scoping review aimed to describe the prevalence of food insecurity among United States college student caregivers and their experiences with food insecurity, dietary quality/intake, academic outcomes, and food security programming. A search of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted in four databases: CINAHL, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. Identified articles were evaluated against inclusion criteria. Of 162 articles identified, 61 articles met eligibility criteria and underwent data extraction and descriptive analysis. Forty-two articles (69%) reported the prevalence of food insecurity among college student caregivers, with prevalence ranging from 9-79%. Single parents, students of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with multiple dependents had increased food insecurity risk. Thirteen studies examined dietary patterns, finding caregiving students prioritized feeding their children, reduced their own meal sizes, and chose low-cost, low-nutrient foods due to budget constraints. Academic challenges included difficulties in time management and scheduling stress. No studies examined GPA or academic performance. Thirteen studies identified the use of food assistance programs. Food assistance programs were underutilized due to limitations like restricted pantry hours and availability. Housing insecurity frequently co-occurred with food insecurity. Food insecurity disproportionately affects college student caregivers compared to non-caregiving students. Comprehensive programming is needed to support food and nutrition security, including connections to government and university food assistance programs, childcare services, and program modifications to reduce barriers to academic success for caregiving students.
Landry et al. (Mon,) studied this question.