# Correlates of food insecurity among university students in a disadvantaged socioeconomic area in France

Henri Dehove, Malo Mofakhami, Julia Baudry, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Chantal Julia, Mathilde Touvier, Sandrine Péneau, Alice Bellicha

► To cite this version:

Henri Dehove, Malo Mofakhami, Julia Baudry, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Chantal Julia, et al. Correlates of food insecurity among university students in a disadvantaged socioeconomic area in France. 23rd International Congress of Nutrition of IUNS, International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), Aug 2025, Paris, France. **hal-05338561**

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Submitted on 30 Oct 2025

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# Correlates of food insecurity among university students in a disadvantaged socioeconomic area in France

Henri Dehove<fnref n="1" />; Malo Mofakhami²; Julia Baudry<fnref n="1" />; Emmanuelle Kesse Guyot<fnref n="1" />; Chantal Julia<fnref n="3" />, <fnref n="1" />; Mathilde Touvier<fnref n="1" />; Sandrine Péneau<fnref n="1" />; Alice Bellicha<fnref n="1" />

## Background and objectives

The higher education student population is particularly concerned by food insecurity (FI), although data collected in France is limited and varies depending on socio-economic contexts. This cross-sectional study aims, 1) to assess the prevalence of FI among university students in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area, 2) to assess the association of FI with perceived school dropout, and 3) to describe the socioeconomic, demographic and academic factors, as well as the cooking and eating conditions associated with FI.

## Methods

An online survey was conducted (Nov 2022 to Jan 2023) among 5068 students (22% of the university population) enrolled at a university located in a low socioeconomic area. FI was assessed using a question with three response modalities: not having access to enough food (i.e. quantitative FI); not having access to the desired food (i.e. qualitative FI); having access to enough of the desired food (i.e. food security). Weighting was calculated (compared to the overall student population of the university) using gender, study level, field of study, country of high school diploma obtention, and training status. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify associations between i) FI and school drop-out; ii) socioeconomic and demographic data, academic-related data, cooking and eating conditions and FI.

## Results

Among respondents, 60% were women and 21% reported financial difficulties ≥4 (out of 5). After weighting, 11% and 35% reported quantitative and qualitative FI, respectively. In multivariable analyses, students reporting quantitative or qualitative FI were more likely to report school dropout than people reporting food security. Besides, reporting financial difficulties, living in a collective residence, not having cooking facilities at home, being an undergraduate, having obtained high school diploma abroad, not cooking frequently, relying on food aid and eating alone regularly were positively associated with both quantitative and qualitative FI. Being a man was associated only with quantitative FI. (P<0.0001)

## Conclusions

This study reported a concerning prevalence of FI among students in a disadvantaged socioeconomic area. FI was associated with greater perceived school dropout, which may further increase socioeconomic inequalities. Both structural (e.g. socioeconomic status, accommodation type) and individual-level (e.g. cooking and eating conditions) factors were found to be associated with FI. These findings provide insight into the characteristics of students more likely to experience FI and to be the target of interventions.

Number: ICNAB-01096

Speaker: Henri Dehove

Mode d'étude : Abstract

Thème : **5. Public health and nutrition throughout life cycle**

Keywords list (min. 1, max. 5) :

* Determinants

* Food Insecurity

* Higher education

* Students

Type of presentation : **Oral presentation**

Conflicts of interest : **No**

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Ethical Charter

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Data Protection

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Engagement

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Recording acceptance

Updated on: **Thursday, December 12, 2024 4:53 PM**

<footnote n="1">¹Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and Université Paris Cité, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, Bobigny, France; ²Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Social Issues (IRIS), Center for employment and labor studies (CEET), Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, France;</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Département de Santé Publique, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Seine-Saint-Denis, APHP, site Avicenne, Bobigny, France</footnote>