Where You Live: How You Eat

Publication Date

2025

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Department

Public Health, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Christian Williams

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

Alexa Kennedy

SPARK Abstract

 

Introduction:

College students often experience challenges in maintaining healthy dietary habits due to environmental and lifestyle factors. One potential influence on nutrition is living arrangement, as students residing on campus frequently rely on university dining services while off-campus students may have greater autonomy in food preparation. This study examined whether living on or off campus was associated with perceived access to healthy food and dietary behaviors among undergraduate students.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey to assess dietary behaviors, food purchasing habits, and perceptions of food access among undergraduate students at Belmont University was conducted fall 2025. The survey included structured, close ended questions adapted from validated instruments assessing campus food purchasing and diet quality. Participants were recruited through email invitations sent through faculty at Belmont University. Descriptive statistics were calculated to summarize behaviors and perceptions, and independent sample t-tests were used to compare perceived access to healthy food.

Results:

A total of 34 undergraduate students participated in the study. The sample was predominantly female (76.47%), with most students living on campus (61.76%) and 67.65% reported having a university meal plan. Descriptive findings indicated moderate consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while sugar sweetened beverage consumption averaged 3.65 days per week. Most participants reported moderate to high confidence in making healthy food choices and generally positive perceptions of food access. An independent samples Welch’s t-test revealed no statistically significant difference in perceived access to healthy food between on campus students (M = 3.57, SD = 1.08) and off campus students (M=3.69, SD = 1.03), t(31.22) = -0.33, p = .75.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest that living arrangement alone does not significantly influence students’ perceived access to healthy food. Instead, dietary behaviors and food access may be shaped by a broader range of factors, including personal habits, environmental resources, and lifestyle constraints. These results highlight the importance of campus wide strategies to improve healthy food availability and support positive dietary behaviors among all students, regardless of residence status.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS