Background/Objective: Food insecurity remains a significant public health concern that negatively impacts college students’ academic performance and health. One in three college students experiences inconsistent access to food, known as food insecurity, which has attracted significant research interest. This study examined the effectiveness of the 10-item United States Department of Agriculture Food Security Scale Module (USDA-FSSM) in accurately and effectively measuring food security among college students. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilized to assess qualitative individual cognitive interviews and survey quantitative data. An online survey was used to collect demographic data and food security status from 462 college students recruited from three public universities in the United States. Qualitative interviews with a subset of participants (n = 26) were conducted to gain further insight into college students’ perceptions and interpretations of the 10-item USDA food security survey. Results: Fourteen (14%) participants were food-insecure, and 12% were at risk of food insecurity. Qualitative data revealed that students misinterpreted some of the language used in the 10-item USDA-FSSM. Participants also indicated difficulty estimating food security experiences over the 12-month reference period in the 10-item USDA-FSSM. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that college students misinterpret food security terms in the 10-item USDA-FSSM, which affects the prevalence rate determined by the measure, emphasizing the need for a validated college student-specific food security survey to inform effective policy and interventions.

To describe the methods used in assessing food insecurity prevalence among college students. Researchers searched peer-reviewed and publicly available electronic databases for peer-reviewed articles on survey protocols used to determine food security among college students in the US. Fifty-four studies met the inclusion criteria, representing data from 70,911 college students. Forty-eight studies used versions of the USDA Food Security Survey Module, with the 6-item and 10-item versions being the most common. Three studies combined USDA survey modules, and only three studies used different surveys, highlighting the various measures of food insecurity among college students. The variation in the prevalence of college student food insecurity, along with the difference in assessment methods, warrants the need for a standardized measurement to inform food aid policies and interventions aimed at alleviating college student food insecurity.

Background/Objective: Food insecurity refers to social or economic challenges that limit or create uncertainty around access to enough food. Among college students, food security status is usually determined with the USDA 10-item Food Security Survey Module, which has not been validated for this population. Nutrition security refers to consistent access to food and beverages that promote well-being, prevent disease, and emphasize equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods. Currently, there is no standardized measure that assesses food and nutrition security tailored to the unique experiences of college students. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of a newly developed College Student Food and Nutrition Security Survey Module (CS-FNSSM). Methods: A mixed-methods approach that combined an online survey with semi-structured cognitive interviews. Participants were students aged 18 and older from U.S. public universities. Quantitative data were analyzed using RStudio (version 4.4.1), and interview transcripts were thematically analyzed. Results: Survey responses were collected from 953 participants, including a subset of 69 participants for reliability testing and 30 participants for cognitive interviews. Rasch analysis showed good item performance and structural validity. The CS-FNSSM demonstrated strong sensitivity (89.09%), specificity (76.2%), moderate test–retest reliability (0.59), and good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79). Qualitative findings confirmed participant understanding of the items. Conclusions: The CS-FNSSM effectively identifies food and nutrition insecurity, with nutrition security emerging as a key issue. Addressing both is crucial for promoting the overall health and well-being of college students.