(P24-012-23) Interactive Nutrition Literacy Related to Food Insecurity Status and Self-Perceived Health Among College Students

Objectives: Interactive nutrition literacy (INL) indicates an individual’s ability to utilize nutrition knowledge in various scenarios of their everyday life. The current study investigated if food security status (FSS) and self-perceived general health are associated with INL among young adult college students.

Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample of undergraduates completed an online survey assessing food insecurity, rating of general health, and cooking self-efficacy. Food security status was measured using a 2-item survey, one item from CDC’s Healthy Days was used to assess self-perceived general health (continuous Likert item 1=poor to 5=excellent) and cooking self-efficacy via the Food Preparation Knowledge and Confidence Survey. INL was measured using a 10-item tool. Independent t-test used to examine INL by FSS. Simple logistic regressions used to examine INL as a predictor of FSS. Simple linear regression examined general health as a predictor of INL. Significance was set at p< 0.05.

Results: Students (N=210) were predominately white race (75.2%), 20.3±2.1 years old, female (77.1%), live off campus (59.0%), have an average of 12.3±9.3 unhealthy days per month, 44.1% indicate their general health as “good”, and 45.3% were food insecure. INL score indicated an average of 33.8±7.4 (range 17-50). Food secure students had 1.04 times higher odds of having a higher INL score (p=.037). Linear regression model was significant, R² = 0.18, F (1, 194) = 42.45, p< .001. Students rating health as very good or excellent had a higher INL (37-38) comparative to those rating health as poor, fair, or good (26-33) (p < .001).

Conclusions: Findings from the current study indicate an association between interactive nutrition literacy and food security, and interactive nutrition literacy and general health rating. Future programming for young adult college students may benefit from including holistic health programming and broad systemic approaches to alleviate food insecurity on campus.

Funding Sources: This research was funded by the USDA-NIFA under Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Disease 2021-68015-33432.