Campus food pantry use Is linked to better health among public university students

Martinez et al. (2022) conducted this retrospective cross-sectional investigation to look into the impact of campus food pantry (CFP, a program that allows students access to a variety of non-perishable and/or perishable goods) on sleep quality, physical health, and mental health in public university college students. By submitting an online survey completed in the summer of 2019, a sum of 1,855 students across 10 university campuses recounted their health status, symptoms of depression, and quality of sleep before and after being granted access to CFP, in addition to the number of CFP visits per week/month. Analysis of the survey results revealed a positive significant relationship between CFP visits/month, health perception enhancement, and the improvement of depressive symptoms, which were postulated to further decline as a result of the positive effect of CFP on sleep quality. Enhanced sleep quality was also linked to an improved self-perception of health. The authors comment that their results demonstrate the benefits to student health resulting from emergency food access on-campus, which was linked to food security. CFP presents a suitable interim measure while more permanent solutions to enhance college student nutrition are implemented. [NPID: Food insecurity, health, mental health, sleep, student support services]

Year: 2022

Reference: Martinez, S. M., Chodur, G. M., Esaryk, E. E., Kaladijian, S., Ritchie, L. D., & Grandner, M. (2022). Campus Food Pantry Use Is Linked to Better Health Among Public University Students. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 54(6), 491–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.03.001

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