Sleep duration and food insecurity among minority urban college students: predictors of health and academic disparity

Introduction: Synthesizing the literature on college students in urban settings, this study addresses how systemic disparities amplify food insecurity and poor sleep health in minority college students in the Bronx. We posit that their relationship is a predictor of higher body mass index (BMI) and lower grade point average to assess academic performance (GPA). Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between self-reported sleep duration and food insecurity among 710 minority undergraduate students at two urban institutions in the Bronx, NY. The research used a QR-code-based survey to collect socio-demographics, food security data (US Household Food Security Module), and sleep duration (a PSQI sub-section). SPSS Version 29 was used for analysis. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the relationships between food security, sleep duration, demographics, BMI, and the GPA. Results: = 0.005, Exp(B) = 2.327). Additionally, students with a normal or overweight BMI were significantly more food secure than their obese counterparts. Conclusion: The current study highlights the interrelationship between sleep duration, food insecurity, socioeconomic status, and BMI among minority students. No correlation was observed between sleep duration, food insecurity, and GPA. However, our findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive, multifaceted interventions to effectively address these challenges faced by urban minority college students.