ORCID

0009-0006-2687-9123

Keywords

food insecurity, food assistance programs, barriers, university students, hurricanes

Abstract

Background and objectives: Food insecurity (FI) is a pressing concern among university students in the United States. Natural disasters such as hurricanes can exacerbate this issue, particularly for low-income individuals, including university students. Although a range of campus, community, and federal food assistance programs (FAPs) are available, students often face barriers to accessing these resources. However, limited research has explored FI among university students in the context of hurricanes, particularly how students utilize FAPs and the challenges they encounter in accessing them. This dissertation aims to (1) understand the prevalence of FI among students, especially socially vulnerable groups at the University of Central Florida (UCF) during and after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole; (2) examine the role of FAPs in alleviating FI, and (3) identify barriers to accessing FAPs among students from various sociodemographic groups. Methods: This study used survey data collected from UCF students (n=261) and secondary socioenvironmental data obtained from multiple sources. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were employed to examine the prevalence of FI and the relationship between FAP participation and FI.

Additionally, survey data were integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis to identify social and spatial barriers to accessing FAPs. Findings: Approximately 30.7% of respondents experienced FI, with higher rates observed among women (33.2%) and non-binary individuals (33.3%) compared to men (23.1%). FI was also more prevalent among racial and ethnic minority groups (32.4%-38.9%) than among non-Hispanic White (24.3%). Despite the availability of FAPs, their utilization was very low—around 90% of respondents had never used these services. Students cited concerns about "taking from those in need", lack of information, stigma, and eligibility as primary barriers. At the community level, students residing in socially vulnerable communities faced more challenges in accessing FAPs.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Fall

Committee Chair

Yingru Li

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Sociology

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029786

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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