The Effects of Food Security on Academic Performance of University Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Bibliographic Data

ID15500113
AuthorsEva Margarita Moya (0000-0001-9893-2110, The University of Texas at El Paso, corresponding author), Gregory S Schober (0000-0002-1170-4850, The University of Texas at El Paso), Amy Wagler (0000-0001-9799-6059, The University of Texas at El Paso), Jean Brown (0000-0002-5648-7175, The University of Texas at El Paso), Jessica Ayala-Demeo Brown (The University of Texas at El Paso), Silvia M Chávez-Baray (0000-0002-6301-1378, The University of Texas at El Paso), Panfeng Liang (0000-0003-2128-5482, The University of Texas at El Paso), Robbie Kennebrew (0009-0000-6846-8855, The University of Texas at El Paso)
Year2025
Volume22
Issue2
Pages266-266
Publication date2025-02-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph22020266
PMID40003491
OpenAlexW4407391855
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited37

Several studies find that low food security has negative effects on academic performance in higher education in the U.S., but the samples for these studies often have low percentages of Hispanic students. Consequently, it remains unclear if food security affects academic performance in predominantly Hispanic settings. Our study aims to analyze whether food security affects academic performance at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Using original survey data collected on 2020 students enrolled at a large research-intensive HSI and cumulative logit models, we assess whether food security influences concentration and graduation delays among students at an HSI in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Our findings strongly suggest that low food security reduces concentration and increases delays for graduation at the HSI. The results have important implications for HSI leaders who want to improve student success, and we offer recommendations for future programs and investments to build student food security at HSIs. Because food security is a strong social determinant of health, the study is closely related to the topic of addressing social determinants of health to improve Hispanic health outcomes. When universities take action to build food security among HSI students, they simultaneously make an investment to improve Hispanic health outcomes

Academic institution · Agriculture · Environmental health · Food insecurity · Food security · Geography · Institution · Library science · Medical education · Political science · Computer Science · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Psychology

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