COVID-19 pandemic impact on food insecurity among college students: A mixed methods study.

This study explores whether the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among US college students. : College students ( = 489) enrolled at a Mid-Atlantic university. : A mixed methods design was utilized for data collection and analysis through an electronic survey and semi-structured interviews. Multiple regression was used to assess predictors of FI before and during COVID-19. The McNemar test determined if significant differences in FI existed. The interviews were used to explore students' personal experience with FI during the pandemic. : Black students ( = 0.045) and students moving in with their parents due to campus closures ( = 0.032) exhibited a higher degree of FI during the pandemic than before. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: decreased food autonomy, limited access to food, and limited access to healthful food. : The pandemic increased the prevalence of FI among college students. Race and living arrangements were strong predictors of FI.