Development of a Survey to Assess Student Interest in a Campus-Based Community Garden

Background

Food insecurity is a significant problem on college campuses. Community gardens are a potential solution and have additional benefits such as the promotion of sustainable thoughts and actions, improvement of mental wellness, and even increased academic performance, without the same level of stigma associated with other interventions such as food pantries.

Objective

To develop an instrument to assess behavioral capability, expectations, value expectancies, self-efficacy, collective efficacy, and likelihood to volunteer among students regarding a campus-based, community garden.

Study Design, Settings, Participants

This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Mid-western, private university using a convenience sampling of students. Instrument items were developed using the Social Cognitive Theory, and the survey was administered online.

Measurable Outcome/Analysis

Internal consistency of the subscales was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha. Descriptive statistics were used to report demographics and interest level of participants.

Results

Of the 209 respondents, 60% were women and ages ranged 18-43 years (M= 20.46 + 2.67). The internal consistency reliability of the subscales for behavioral capability, expectations, expectancies, and likelihood to volunteer were excellent (ɑ= .90, .90, .93, .92, respectively). Self-efficacy and collective efficacy were only 1 item each so reliability was not analyzed. Of respondents, 70% (n=190) felt confident in their ability to contribute to the garden, and 85% (n=190) felt confident students could work together to contribute. Seventy percent (n=189) also reported they would be likely to volunteer in the garden, and 75% (n=188) would be likely to use the produce grown.

Conclusions

This instrument was determined to be reliable among this population. Other institutions may also find this survey useful to determine interest in a campus-based community garden.

Funding

None