Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42244355›Full record

SynthesisNutrition & dietetics : the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia2026

Food insecurity among university students in Australia: A systematic review of prevalence, predictors, health and academic outcomes.

Suvasish Das Shuvo, Karen Charlton, Rajshri Roy, Margaret Allman-Farinelli, Seema Mihrshahi, Katherine Kent

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Nutrition & dietetics : the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Placement poverty: Why it matters to all dietitians.Nutrition & dietetics : the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia · 2026
    Article
  3. 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

6 authors.

Suvasish Das ShuvoSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0485-915X
Karen CharltonSchool of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Rajshri RoyNutrition and Dietetics, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Margaret Allman-FarinelliNutrition and Dietetics, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6478-1374
Seema MihrshahiNutrition and Dietetics, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Katherine KentSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5330-7044

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsFood insecurity has increasingly been recognised as a significant challenge among university student populations in Australia. This systematic review aimed to synthesise existing evidence on the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of food insecurity among university students in Australia.

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted (May 2025), following PRISMA guidelines, across eight databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ERIC, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Informit, and PsycINFO). Studies were included if peer reviewed, published in English since 2000, and food insecurity was assessed among students attending tertiary institutions in Australia. Two authors independently screened search results against the inclusion criteria.

resultsFrom 1450 records, 23 met the inclusion criteria: 20 quantitative (n = 105-3077) and 3 qualitative or mixed methods (n = 14-64). 17 studies assessed the prevalence of food insecurity, reporting rates between 9.0% and 77.9%. Fifteen studies examined predictors of food insecurity. Key risk factors included being an international student (n = 2), low income/limited financial resources (n = 3), unstable employment (n = 3), younger age (n = 5), and living alone (n = 9). 6 studies found associations between food insecurity and poor dietary patterns; 5 studies reported associations with poorer physical health. 6 studies identified associations with increased anxiety, depression, and stress, and 2 of 4 studies reported associations with poorer academic performance. Qualitative findings suggested that food insecurity exacerbated existing health conditions and weight management. Studies evaluating interventions to improve student food insecurity were not identified.

conclusionFood insecurity is highly prevalent among Australian university students and was associated with poorer diet and health, and to reduced academic performance. Despite evidence of widespread impact, no evaluated interventions were identified, underscoring the need for coordinated research and policy action in higher education.

Indexed as

Food InsecurityHealth StatusStudentsAustraliaHumansPrevalenceRisk FactorsUniversitiesYoung Adultdiversityequityfinancial stresshigher educationinclusionsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42244355
PMCPMC13575728

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.