Exploring the Experience of Food Insecurity among University Students Caring for Children: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Food insecurity negatively impacts the health and well-being of postsecondary students attending college and university. Students may be especially vulnerable for food insecurity if they care for children. This qualitative study explored the experience of food insecurity among nine food-insecure university students with children who accessed a food bank on their campus. Transcripts of semi-structured, individual interviews underwent content analysis. Students tried to shield their children from the negative effects of food insecurity by sacrificing their own nutrition in times of food shortage. Food-insecure postsecondary students with children may therefore be at risk for compromised dietary intake and other negative health and academic consequences by limiting their own diet in order to ensure their children's nutritional needs are met.