Food insecurity, stress, and depression: a longitudinal study of midwestern college students from 2020-2022

<b>Objective:</b> This study assessed college food insecurity (FI) longitudinally during COVID-19. <b>Participants:</b> Convenient sample (<i>n</i> = 551) college students took an online survey between December 2020-February 2021 [Y1]. Follow-up (December 2021-February 2022) [Y2] from Y1, (<i>n</i> = 131). <b>Methods:</b> FI measured <i>via</i> USDA Short Form Food Security Module. Stress and depression measured <i>via</i> PSS-10 and CES-D. <b>Results:</b> Y1, 31.3% FI. FI had lower mean GPA, were less likely to tell a parent about a food shortage, but more likely to be on financial aid, part-time employed, non-white, first-generation, full-time, and live off-campus compared to food secure [FS] (<i>p</i> ≤ .05* for all). FI had higher mean CES-D [28.45 ± 8.38 vs. 23.50 ± 7.98] and PSS-10 [24.39 ± 3.76 vs. 23.40 ± 3.69] (<i>p</i> < .01*). Y2, FI increased to 39.7%. FI had higher CES-D scores [29.11 ± 10.24 vs. 21.30 ± 6.80] and PSS-10 scores [23.81 ± 3.53 vs. 22.44 ± 3.25] (<i>p</i> ≤ .03*). <b>Conclusions:</b> FI, stress, and depression worsened from Y1 to Y2 due to increased employment, financial aid, and limited familial support.