TITLE:
College Students with Medical Dietary Restrictions Face Financial and Personal Challenges Trying to Meet Nutritional Needs
AUTHORS:
Corinne Bosch, Kritee Niroula, Erin McKinley
KEYWORDS:
Food Allergies, Food Sensitives, College Students, Medical Dietary Restrictions
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.15 No.1,
January
17,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Dietary restrictions are followed due to personal
choices and/or medical diagnosis. The literature lacks studies
focused on the experiences of college students navigating campus life and
managing the effects of restricted eating. The goal of this study was to assess
how food allergies, food sensitivities, and/or autoimmune disease affect one’s
well-being as a college student. Methods: A 33-item web-based survey was
promoted to undergraduate and graduate students at a large state institution in
Louisiana. Participants needed to identify as having dietary restrictions due
to food allergies, food sensitivities, and/or autoimmune disease. Items
assessed their prioritization of dietary restrictions, commitment to reading
food labels, and common symptoms experienced when eating a restricted food
item. Results: People who had food sensitives were found to prioritize
their dietary restrictions significantly less than those with allergies or
autoimmune diseases (p p = 0.005) than those with food
allergies. Students with food sensitives were also more likely to report high
incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Students also reported issues with
locating appropriate foods and financing their dietary needs. Conclusion: Experiencing uncomfortable GI symptoms may interrupt college students’ busy schedules causing an increase in stress, embarrassment, missing
class/work, feelings of isolation, and put a strain on intimate relationships.
Minimal dietary adherence may lead to an increased risk for decreased GI
motility time resulting in malabsorption of vitamins and minerals that could
over time cause more serious health issues. Soliciting ideas for the changes
students expect to see in university dining facilities to better manage medical
dietary restrictions is the next area of focus.