Advisory Committee Chair
Laura Forbes
Advisory Committee Members
Mary Bodine Al-Sharif
Aimee Holland
Alan Webb
Carol Griggs
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
1-1-2025
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) School of Education
Abstract
Food insecurity is a common issue in the United States (US), and special attention has been given to college students. There is empirical evidence of high food insecurity among African American students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) (Duke et al., 2023; Dahl et al., 2022; Goldrick-Rab et al., 2018). The current research explores the food-insecure conditions of college students at HBCUs in Alabama, appealing for more studies highlighting the role of all stakeholders in combating this issue. The research questions posed in this study are significant, as they are expected to yield vital information regarding the experiences and attitudes of food-insecure college students enrolled in Alabama Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which can inform effective food security policy changes. RQ1. What are food-insecure college students' perceptions of their lived experiences with food access and food quality at an HBCU? SQ1. How do food quality and access affect food-insecure college students' perceptions of overall health at an HBCU? SQ2. How do food quality and access affect food-insecure college students' perceptions of academic performance at an HBCU? Promoting food literacy at HBCUs is an investment in learning and alleviating social inequalities in health and well-being in the African American community. This study was guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which emphasizes the dynamic interaction between individuals (personal factors), their environment, and their behavior. Directed by the SCT framework, this project seeks to do the following: (1) allow students to appreciate the important viewpoint about their relationship with food, (2) identify the impact of food and quality and its influences on health experiences, and (3) deepen their knowledge of food insecurity’s impact on academic performance. The study investigates how behavioral skills, outcome expectations, and social support can promote favorable eating habits that positively impact academic performance, thereby enhancing self-efficacy (Ho et al., 2022). Nonetheless, the urgency of this study underscores the need for further investigation into the lived experiences of food-insecure HBCU students, as institutional food policies should be firmly aligned with enabling student academic success and well-being (Duke et al., 2023; Qi et al., 2023).
Recommended Citation
Washington, Janice Dansby, "An In-Depth Review Of Food Insecurity In College Students Enrolled In Alabama Historically Black Colleges And Universities" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 6898.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/6898
Comments
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