A Qualitative Exploration of Food Security Among Collegiate Student-Athletes from the Perspective of Athletic Professionals

Though it has been well established that a subset of collegiate student-athletes in the United States (U.S.) are not food secure, efficacious solutions for mitigating this issue appear to be elusive. This study identified system-level barriers and enablers to food security among student-athletes through the lens of collegiate athletic professionals (athletic directors, athletic trainers, sports dietitians, and strength and conditioning coaches). Using a phenomenological-informed design and constructivist theoretical framework, researchers explored the experiences and insights of participants (n = 27, Division I, northwestern U.S.) via six online focus groups July–December 2023. Categorical themes for barriers to food security were finances, culture, and competing priorities; enablers were on-campus supplemental food assistance, referrals to community services, and educational programming. A gap analysis was performed; existing solutions enabling food security and aspirational solutions for addressing food insecurity were compared, and gaps identified. Based on the insights of athletic professionals, a lack of student-athlete-centric solutions to ensure food security emerged. The introduction of shared revenue programs in American college sports may address some of food security barriers; however, additional funds may not mitigate the contribution of competing priorities and scheduling issues experienced by student-athletes. System-level changes are required to enable food security among this population.