Examining the Effect of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Enrollment on Food Insecurity in College Students

<b>Objectives</b>. This
purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of food insecurity and
SNAP enrollment, and the effect of SNAP enrollment on food security students at
Middle Tennessee State University.

<br><b>Methods</b>. 402
participants were screened for SNAP eligibility, receipt of SNAP benefits, and
level of food security based on the USDA 6-item short form. One-proportion
z-scores, binary logistic regression, and univariate ANCOVA were utilized to
determine prevalence of food insecurity and SNAP enrollment and the effect of
SNAP participation on food security levels.

<br><b>Results</b>. It was
estimated that 54.0% of students at MTSU are food insecure. Students surveyed
were 71.65% less likely to be receiving SNAP benefits than other eligible
Tennessee residents. Students enrolled in SNAP were 45.9% less likely to
experience very low food security compared to students that did not receive
SNAP benefits, OR = 0.541, 95% CI [0.169, 1.736], p = 0.302. Results also indicated
that students enrolled in SNAP had Rasch food security scores that were
approximately 11.9% lower than food insecure students that were not enrolled in
SNAP, F (1, 190) = 3.391, p = .067.

<br><b>Conclusions</b>.

Compared to Tennessee
adults, MTSU students were 4.6 times, or 360%, more likely to experience food
insecurity, and significantly less likely to be enrolled in the SNAP program. For
those that were enrolled, this research has shown that receiving SNAP benefits
in college may improve food security.