1. Full-time Undergaduate
Food Insecurity Among International College Students
Minhee Park1, Jennifer Maguire1, Megan Mefford2, Youngsub Kwon3,
Humboldt State University 1Social Work, 2Center for International Programs, 3Kinesiology
BACKGROUND
FIGURES AND TABLE
RESULTS
Studies of college students suggest a higher prevalence of food insecurity among this population compared with the general population. 
A study in Hawaii found that 45% of students were at risk of food insecurity (Chaparro et al. 2008); a study in Australia found ~72% of students at risk (Hughes, Donaldon & Leveritt, 2011).
Among rural Oregon college students, food insecurity affected 59%, students reporting fair or poor health were more likely to be food insecure (Patton-Lopez et al. 2014).
Food insecurity should be addressed by scholars and be taken under consideration by policymakers to promote successful higher education pathways (Patton-Lopez et al. 2014).    
No studies address food insecurity among US international students. 
Poor information concerning eligibility status may be the primary reason for non-participation of all students.
Population has historically been excluded from SNAP eligibility; many other barriers to access exist (Coe, 1983).
International students contribute $24.7 billion to the U.S. economy (Department of Commerce).
Participants represented 4 single head-of-households and 8 families.
~88% of spouses had student dependent visas (F-2), not allowing them to work.
Every family had at least one child born in the US during their studies.    
~ 60% of the participants received financial aid from their parents.
~42% of the participants had participated in food assistance programs during their studies.
4 families had participated in WIC and only one family had participated in SNAP.
A distinct difference was noted between single and married students regarding their financial circumstances during their studies.
Most single-students reported that their monthly income was sufficient to make a living.
Most married-students families reported that their monthly income was not sufficient to raise their children and cover their cost of living since their spouses couldn’t work.
Parental financial support were necessary to feed their children
Barriers for them with children born in the US to participate in SNAP were lack of information to access the benefits, fear about their immigration status, and feelings of shame about needing benefits.
Figure 1. Participants by Food Assistant Program
enrollment
Figure 2. Participants by Monthly Income
LIMITATIONS
RESEARCH QUESTION & PURPOSE
Study limitations include sample size and exploratory design:  
Sample is small.
Do not represent all ethnic groups.
Participants were past, not current, international students.
Are international students, who are working on college campuses experiencing food insecurity?
To understand of the barriers to their access of SNAP benefits.
To explore food insecurity among international college students.
To raise awareness of exclusionary SNAP eligibility.
Figure 3. Participants’ Spouses by Visa Types
Figure 4. Participants by WIC and SNAP
enrollment
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
Table 1. Participants by Country of Origin, Gender, Marital Status, Age, Number of Children, and Financial Aid
Without parental support, international students with families are faced with food insecurity, which may mean an end their studies and diminishing program success rates.
Campus and local food pantries can play a critical role in effective outreach.
Working international students must be treated regardless of immigration status since they pay US income tax.
SNAP eligibility rules must be changed to enable working international students’ access to benefits.
IMPLICATION FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE & FUTURE RESEARCH:
Social work practitioners and scholars furthering research of this population will gain greater understanding of international, non-immigrant students and their relationship with federal food and nutrition assistance programs.
Social work practitioners, scholars and policy makers will become more aware of international student marginalization and food insecurity.
Expanded research is needed to explore the issue of food insecurity among international students across U.S. universities and colleges more fully.
Future research across U.S. universities and colleges should examine the connection between food insecurity and academic success, particularly how food insecurity among this study population influences program outcomes.
Code #
Gender
Country
Of Origin
Student
Status
Marital
Age
Children #
(U.S. Born)
Received
Financial Aids 1 F
China
Full-time Graduate
Married
>30
2 (2)
T/A & R/A 2 M
Korea
2 (1) 3
Single
None
R/A & Scholarship 4
Full-time Undergaduate
<30
Student employment 5
1 (1) 6
1(1)
R/A 7
2(2)
T/A 8 9 10 11 12
3 (1)
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN: A qualitative study exploring food insecurity among international students.
POPULATION: 12 international college students who worked on campus 20 hours per week.
RECRUITMENT:
Via contact with staff in the international student office and HSU professors.
Through “Word of mouth” via and phone call.
MEASUREMENTS:
15-question survey based on demographic information, including age, marital status, number of children, and income.
Interviews conducted by open-ended questions regarding financial situation, participation in food assistance programs, and perceptions of the existing social welfare system.
DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES:
Survey & interviews conducted in person, by phone and/or .
Survey conducted in English; interviews conducted in English & Korean.
Study required approximately 2 hours of each participant’s time.