Exploring the prevalence and impact of food poverty among university students in the UK through quantitative survey analysis

Abstract

Over the past few years' food poverty has become an increasingly pressing issue brought to light by the current ‘cost-of-living crises’. While previous studies have addressed food poverty and the effects of rising prices on the UK population as a whole, the specific challenges being faced by students remain relatively unexplored. Understanding the true extent of the problem is critical to developing policies and support systems to alleviate the problems being faced by students. The aim of this study was to understand the prevalence and impacts of food poverty among students in the UK. The objectives of the study were to gain an overall understanding of the severity of food poverty among students, to identify the underlying causes and reasons, to assess the impact of food poverty on students' health and well-being and to understand the impact food poverty has on academic performance. This quantitative study used questionnaires to gather relevant information. The questionnaire was posted online with the target population being students over the age of 18 at university in the United Kingdom. The researcher used a self-selecting sampling method to gain responses from 121 participants. The data was analysed by a researcher using Google Sheets and SPSS was used to carry out Chi-squared tests on the data. The main findings show a significant issue of food poverty among students in the UK and highlight the need for urgent policy changes and support systems to address food poverty in higher education. Many respondents to the questionnaire reported issues including worrying about running out of food or being unable to afford food, skipping meals due to financial difficulties, putting the price of food above the nutritional value of it and having to choose between buying food or paying for essentials. A small proportion of participants have also reported having to use a food bank in the past 12 months. Additionally, the questionnaire found a lack of awareness of initiatives available to support students, and some students were facing significant negative effects on academic performance as a result of food poverty. The research provides valuable insights into the experiences of food poverty among this often-overlooked demographic. However, more in-depth research is needed to gain a representative understanding of the extent of the problem across the UK. The researcher recommends the government reviews the student loan policy and increases loans in line with rising living costs and universities introduce initiatives to support students and raises awareness of food poverty issues.