Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40806093›Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

"More than Hunger": Experiences of Food Insecurity Among South Asian International Graduate Students at a U.S. University.

Lisa Henry, Doug Henry, Eva Perez Zepeda

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Lisa HenryImpactLab for Applied Social Science Research, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA.
Doug HenryImpactLab for Applied Social Science Research, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3627-9974
Eva Perez ZepedaUniversity of North Texas Health Science Center, ImpactLab for Applied Social Science Research, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesInternational students pursuing higher education in the United States face unique challenges that increase their risk of food insecurity, including limited financial resources, employment restrictions, and cultural barriers. While food insecurity among domestic students has been widely studied, limited research focuses on the lived experiences of international graduate students. This study explores the challenges, perceptions, and coping strategies related to food insecurity among international graduate students at a large public university in North Texas.

methodsThis qualitative, ethnographic study involved 20 semi-structured interviews with international graduate students who were clients of the university's food pantry. Participants were recruited using purposive convenience sampling. Interviews focused on students' experiences with food access, financial constraints, campus resources, and cultural food preferences. Data were analyzed using thematic coding in MAXQDA. Two standardized food insecurity measures-the USDA and FAO scales-were also administered and analyzed using SPSS.

resultsFindings revealed that 85% of participants experienced limited access to nutritious and culturally appropriate foods, with 70% reporting hunger due to financial constraints. Themes included lack of cooking skills, limited campus food options, difficulty accessing familiar groceries, and limited job opportunities. Students expressed that food insecurity significantly impacted their physical health, mental well-being, and social lives, though many continued to prioritize academics over personal nourishment.

conclusionsFood insecurity among international graduate students is multifaceted, shaped by financial, cultural, and institutional barriers. Addressing this issue requires culturally sensitive interventions, improved access to diverse food options, tailored student support services, and institutional efforts to better understand and meet the needs of international students.

Indexed as

Food InsecurityFood SupplyHungerStudentsAdultFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchTexasUnited StatesUniversitiesYoung Adultbasic needs insecuritycampus food pantrycultural food accessethnographic researchfood insecurityhigher educationinternational graduate studentsqualitative methodsstudent well-being

Identifiers

PMID40806093
PMCPMC12348898

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.