Food security, mental health, and socioeconomic status: A cross-sectional study among medical college students in central part of Iran, Kashan

Abstract

Background and Aims: Food security is a complex and multidimensional issue that has been recognized as a serious public health problem all over the world for the past two decades. The present study was designed and conducted to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among college students at the Kashan University of Medical Sciences and some related factors including socioeconomic and mental health determinants. Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study conducted on 358 students who were currently studying at the Kashan University of Medical Sciences. The students who were pregnant or had a special diet to follow were excluded. Samples were selected by the systematic method. Food security was measured using United States Department of Agriculture. Food Frequency Questionnaire, 21-items Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, and Socioeconomic Questionnaire were used to investigate the nutrients intake, depression/anxiety status, and socioeconomic factors, respectively. Chi-square, independent t-test, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Based on the findings of the present study, 16.8% of students experienced different levels of food insecurity, and 83.2% of participants were categorized as food secure. Gender, financial assistance, health insurance, depression, and students' occupation are associated with food insecurity (P