Food insecurity and social connections among university food pantry users before and during COVID-19

Student food insecurity is a significant concern on college campuses in the United States and beyond. While demographic risk factors for food insecurity are well-documented, the influence of social fac­tors, such as social relationships and social support, remains less understood. This study aimed to explore the experiences of college food pantry users in relation to food insecurity and social con­nections. Participants included 53 student food pantry users from a university in the southeastern United States. The study used a mixed-methods approach, incorporating a quantitative survey to assess food insecurity, social support, social isola­tion, and demographics, alongside eight qualitative interviews to explore experiences before and dur­ing the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicated that 47% of participants reported very low food security on the U.S. Adult Food Security Ques­tionnaire, and 30% reported low food secu­rity, signifying that together 77% of the sample had experienced food insecurity within the past 12 months. On average, moderate levels of both social support and social isolation were reported, with considerable variation among participants. A key finding is that past food insecurity or adverse life events in the previous year increased the likelihood of very low food security. Qualitative themes included the impact of the pandemic on food secu­rity and food pantry access, the role of social con­nections, and the challenges of resource navigation. The qualitative findings emphasize the importance of social connections in securing access to food and the impacts of social isolation on food security and general well-being. Drawing from these insights, food insecurity may be viewed as a trau­matic experience. Therefore, it is recommended that university food pantries adopt a trauma-informed approach to service delivery and screen students for critical risk factors such as past food insecurity and adverse life events. By implementing these strategies, food pantries can foster a safe and supportive environment and integrate social sup­port resources and programs within their spaces.