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(OR26-02-26) Food Insecurity and Academic Performance Among University Students: A Scoping Review

Tuesday, July 28, 2026
8:42 AM - 8:54 AM ET
Location: Maryland Ballroom C
Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Poster Competition

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Alireza Majidi, MS

    Graduate Student
    University of Idaho
    Moscow, Idaho, United States

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • EA

    Edris Afsharkohan

    University of Findlay, United States

  • MH

    Mahdi Hejazi

    Brock University, Canada

  • MS

    Mojtaba Shafiee

    University of Idaho, United States

Disclosure(s):
Alireza Majidi, MS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: To systematically identify, map, and summarize existing longitudinal evidence on the relationship between food insecurity and academic performance among students enrolled in higher education institutions worldwide.

Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, ERIC, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO was completed on November 2, 2025. Title and abstract screening and full-text review were conducted independently and in duplicate. Eligibility criteria were defined using the Population, Concept, Context (PCC) framework. Of 3,078 records identified, 85 sources met inclusion criteria. This abstract focuses on the eight longitudinal studies identified.

Results: All longitudinal studies were conducted in the United States. Across institutional cohorts, food insecurity was consistently associated with lower subsequent GPA, including first-semester and cumulative GPA, even after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, and prior academic factors. Food-insecure first-year students demonstrated lower official GPAs, though retention effects were not consistently observed. In nationally representative longitudinal cohorts, food insecurity during college was associated with significantly lower odds of degree completion and lower likelihood of attaining bachelor’s or graduate degrees, with particularly strong effects among first-generation students. Evidence also suggests potential mechanisms and modifiers, including psychosocial health as a mediator and participation in nutrition assistance programs as a buffer during periods of crisis.

Conclusions: Longitudinal evidence consistently demonstrates that food insecurity during college is associated with poorer short-term academic performance and reduced long-term educational attainment. Findings highlight the need for structural and policy-level interventions to address food insecurity as a determinant of academic success in higher education settings.

Funding Sources: N/A