Introduction: Dietary behaviors on non-HBCU campuses has been extensively studied. However, there are no published studies on the effects of acculturation on diet quality among U.S.-born, historically black college or university (HBCUs) students.

Approach: In this cross sectional study, we surveyed students (N=46, age 20.3±1.3y) attending Dillard University, a HBCU in New Orleans, Louisiana. Students completed a validated diet history questionnaire developed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI, DHQ-II) which captured typical dietary behavior over the past year. Nutrient estimates were generated using NCI Diet*Calc software. Acculturation was assessed via the African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS-R), a 47 Likert-response survey (1=totally disagree, 7=strongly agree, min 47 max 329) that included statements pertaining to subscales including religious beliefs and practices, preference for things African American, interracial attitudes, family practices, health beliefs and practices, cultural superstitions, racial segregation and family values.

Results: The mean daily energy intake was 1,219±627 kcals, of which 38.3±7.2% was from fat, 45.0±10.85% carbohydrates and 18.7±5.1% protein. The mean AAAS-R score (241.4±37.0) was negatively correlated with total kcals (R²=0.08, p=0.05), pizza (R²=0.11, p=0.03) and fruit consumption (R²=0.12, p=0.02) and positively correlated to sweet tea consumption (R²=0.15, p=0.002). The “preferences for things African American” subscale was positively correlated with total kcals (R²=0.13, p=0.01), while health beliefs and practices was negatively correlated with fruit (R²=0.17, p=0.004) and vegetable (R²=0.08, p=0.06) consumption.

Discussion: Our results suggest that acculturation among HBCU students may play an important role in dietary behaviors and should be considered when addressing campus health issues and concerns.

Background: Food and housing insecurity, two major social determinants of health, are growing public health problems among U.S. university and college students and have huge implications for health and wellbeing.

Methods: College and university students (N=6,263) at eight higher education institutions in North Carolina completed an online, cross-sectional survey. The 10-item Adult Food Security Survey Module was used to assess food insecurity status. Housing Security was measured by using six adapted questions from the national Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) Adult Well-Being Module (if answering “yes” to any of the questions, the student was housing insecure). Students were also asked about their housing status (on-campus/off-campus) and awareness of and use of campus resources. Descriptive analyses were performed and Pearson’s chi-square tests were utilized for comparisons.

Results: Food insecurity (43%) and housing insecurity (48%) were prevalent across the sample. The odds of being food insecure (OR=1.32) and housing insecure (OR=8.10) were increased among students living off campus. Only about a half (50.3%) of students were aware of campus resources available and only 12.2% were actually making use of available campus resources. The odds of housing insecurity (OR=0.68; OR=0.63) were lower among those aware of campus resources and making use of resources; interestingly, there were no significant differences in terms of food insecurity status.

Conclusions: As colleges and university administrators and officials plan, develop, and implement interventions targeting the food and housing security status of students, they must consider the different needs between students living on-campus and off-campus.

Introduction: Food insecurity continues to be a concern for university students. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between food security and demographic characteristics, academic outcomes, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding SNAP at a large public university.

Methods: A comprehensive food security and SNAP KAPs questionnaire was developed and contained 68 items, including the 10-item USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module, questions about student food choice, lifestyle, financial factors, and SNAP KAPs. The questionnaire was distributed in Winter 2020 to 10,000 students. Chi-square test of independence assessed associations between food secure status and student factors. Kendall’s tau assessed the association between SNAP KAPs.

Results: The questionnaire received 1,535 responses with 1,454 included in analysis for having complete food security data. Food security was associated with: race/ethnicity (χ²(8)=82.50, p<.001); first-generation status (χ²(1)=78.85, p<.001); low-income status (χ²(1)=29.18, p<.001); US citizenship (χ²(1)=29.18, p=0.038); California residency (χ²(1)=6.84, p=0.009); class standing (χ²(4)=38.03, p<.001); holding unpaid jobs (χ²(1)=5.99, p=0.014); holding paid jobs (χ²(1)=8.79, p=0.003); and community financial support (χ²(1)=32.15, p<.001). SNAP knowledge was associated with positive attitudes towards SNAP participation (τb=0.152, p=0.025); negative attitudes towards other individuals’ SNAP participation (τb=-0.278, p<0.001); and feeling fortunate for not needing SNAP (τb=0.123, p=0.004).

Discussion: SNAP knowledge may influence perception of program participation. Populations who are most impacted by food insecurity should be a focus for improving knowledge of this resource in order to promote SNAP participation and food security status.

This project was funded by an internal University of California, Davis research grant.

Introduction: Community college administrators across the US have reported a surge in students’ basic food needs because of the COVID-19 pandemic; many responded by increasing food distribution. This study evaluates the association of economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic with food insecurity (FI) among young people recruited from community colleges in California and Texas.

Methods: Data were collected May 2020-March 2021 from people assigned female at birth in an ongoing study of community college students aged 18-25 (n=1,352). We conducted mixed effects logistic regression analyses to identify the factors associated with COVID-19-related food insecurity.

Results: Almost one-third of participants (31%) reported being worried about paying for food due to the pandemic. FI was even more prevalent among participants who lost their job due to COVID-19 (46%), whose family member lost a job (48%), or who cared for a sick relative (47%). Controlling for age, race/ethnicity and other socio-demographic characteristics, participants who lost a job (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.08; 95% CI: 1.53-2.84), family member lost a job (aOR= 3.10; 95% CI: 2.40-4.00), or cared for a sick relative (aOR=2.48; 95% CI: 1.60-3.84) were more likely to report FI. First-generation college students were also more likely to report FI (aOR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.06-2.21). Participants living with parents were less likely to report FI (aOR=0.53; 95% CI: 0.37-0.77).

Discussion: Community colleges are key actors in addressing basic food needs for young people. Adequate funding is needed to support colleges to meet increasing demands for food distribution, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.