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Psychosocial Factors as Mediator to Food Security Status and Academic Performance among University Students

Author

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  • Nor Syaza Sofiah Ahmad

    (Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Norhasmah Sulaiman

    (Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
    Research Centre of Excellence for Nutrition and Non-Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Mohamad Fazli Sabri

    (Department of Resource Management and Consumer Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia)

Abstract

The interrelation between food security, academic performance, and psychosocial factors remains unclear. This study aims to identify psychosocial factors as mediators of food security status and academic performance among university students at one of Malaysia’s public universities. Respondents included 663 bachelor’s degree students from seven randomly selected programmes at the university. Data on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, food security status (US Adult Food Security Survey Module, FSSM), psychosocial factors (DASS-21), and academic performance were collected using an online survey. The SPSS PROCESS macro was used to perform mediation analysis. The result (β = −0.0182, p < 0.001) indicates that food insecurity is associated with poor academic performance. As well as that, an increase in anxiety (β = −0.0027, p < 0.05) and depression (β = −0.0025, p < 0.05) was significant associated with a decrease in academic performance. Furthermore, anxiety and depression serve as significant mediators in the relationship between food security and academic performance. Alleviating food insecurity is not only a way to improve academic performance; it can also improve academic performance by reducing anxiety and depression.

Suggested Citation

  • Nor Syaza Sofiah Ahmad & Norhasmah Sulaiman & Mohamad Fazli Sabri, 2022. "Psychosocial Factors as Mediator to Food Security Status and Academic Performance among University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5535-:d:807661
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicole Reeder & Pradtana Tapanee & Anna Persell & Terezie Tolar-Peterson, 2020. "Food Insecurity, Depression, and Race: Correlations Observed Among College Students at a University in the Southeastern United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-11, November.
    2. Kristin Thomas & Evalill Nilsson & Karin Festin & Pontus Henriksson & Mats Lowén & Marie Löf & Margareta Kristenson, 2020. "Associations of Psychosocial Factors with Multiple Health Behaviors: A Population-Based Study of Middle-Aged Men and Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Josiah W.B Oketch-Oboth & Luke Odiemo Okunya, 2018. "The Relationship Between Levels of Stress and Academic Performance Among University of Nairobi Students," International Journal of Learning and Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 8(4), pages 1-28, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brittany M. Loofbourrow & Rachel E. Scherr, 2023. "Food Insecurity in Higher Education: A Contemporary Review of Impacts and Explorations of Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-15, May.

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