Food insecurity, or the inability to provide enough food for your household, is prevalent across the United States. People who experience food insecurity are more likely to experience many negative outcomes related to their physical health, mental health and school/work performance. In this study, we looked at how college students view food insecurity. We found that those with more exposure to food insecurity (through volunteering, donating or being knowledgeable about general information related to it) tended to hold more positive opinions. We also found that overall college students held positive opinions about food pantry usage by others. A surprising finding was that although they had a positive view on others using a food pantry, they were more hesitant to use it themselves. Knowing these proclivities, we can begin to develop potential interventions in college populations and empower students to obtain the resources they need.

