2024/11/19 by Jocelyn E. Jarvis, Jacqueline C. Perez, Jacqueline Perez +6
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Health Professions · #Food Safety and Hygiene #Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations #Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability
paper · doi:10.1177/08901171241302001
openalex publication_date 2024/11/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
PURPOSE: Given the high prevalence of food insecurity among college students, there is an interest in identifying whether the use of a single item can adequately screen for food insecurity. The current study aimed to determine the validity of a single-item food insecurity screening question among college students. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study exploring food insecurity among racial and ethnic undergraduate college students. SETTING: Large urban U.S. research university. SAMPLE: Undergraduate students (n = 667) 18 years or older. MEASURES: Food Insecurity screening was assessed via a single-item from the USDA Household Food Security Short Form (USDA FSSM-SF). Food security was assessed via the USDA FSSM-SF, a validated six-item scale that assesses food insecurity and hunger. ANALYSIS: Logistic regression assessed the validity of the single-item food insecurity question tested against the USDA FSSM-SF. RESULTS: < .001 explaining 54.5% of the variance in food insecurity status correctly classifying 95.7% of cases. Sensitivity of the model was found to be 97.6%; specificity was found to be 69.6%. Positive predictive value was calculated to be 97.74%; negative predictive value was computed to be 68.09%. CONCLUSION: Results support for the test validity of a single-item screening question that can be used to detect food insecurity among college students and inform secondary prevention programs aimed at food insecurity.