Mental Health of Students Reporting Food Insecurity during the Transition to University.

Abstract

Purpose: The present study examined differences in mental health and well-being between students with and without suspected food insecurity during their transition to university.Methods: We drew on existing data from 4 samples of first-year undergraduates enrolled at 3 large universities in 3 provinces (Alberta n\u2009=\u2009199, Québec n\u2009=\u2009299, and Ontario n\u2009=\u2009461 and n\u2009=\u2009510). Students completed online surveys assessing a wide range of health-related behaviours and indicators, and students were classified as food secure or insecure based on their responses to screening questions.Results: Mental health (depression, anxiety, low satisfaction with life) was consistently poorer in students classified as food insecure across all samples. The magnitude of mental health deficit was comparable to socioeconomic disadvantage associated with food insecurity.Conclusions: Students experiencing food insecurity are disproportionately launching their university careers with poorer mental health, revealing a critical point of intervention for these socioeconomically higher-risk students.