'It's Part of the College Experience': A Focus Group Assessment of US College Students' Knowledge and Use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Abstract

College student food insecurity is highly prevalent, yet qualitative analyses of this problem and potential campus solutions are scarce in the literature. The purpose of this online focus group study was to examine college students' knowledge of food insecurity, including barriers and facilitators of accessing federal food assistance programmes. Students from 13 colleges, universities and tech schools in one Midwestern state were recruited to participate using convenience sampling. Any enrolled student was eligible. A total of 26 students from 9 universities participated in 4 total focus groups (6-8 students per group) which all lasted between 45 and 55 min. The primary outcome was knowledge and use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Focus groups were held online via Zoom, recorded, then transcribed, reviewed and discussed by all authors until data saturation was achieved. Data were coded based on agreed-upon themes. Participants included 35% males; the average age was 22.9 years, and 13 were from public institutions. Main themes included: challenges of applying for SNAP, including determining eligibility and difficulty applying; a lack of knowledge related to food insecurity and SNAP; the role of campuses in assisting food insecure students; and stigma associated with being food insecure, which was considered part of the college experience. College food insecurity should be addressed, particularly by targeting campus resources, and campus policies could be targeted to reduce food insecurity among students. Potential suggestions include campus administrators assisting in determining eligibility and applying for SNAP. Future work is needed to reduce stigma surrounding food insecurity and SNAP use.