Understanding college food insecurity through the lens of the theory of planned behavior and social stigma

Abstract

Intention to use food pantries is a persistent factor in food access among college students, yet how stigma, individual beliefs, and behaviors influence usage remain understudied. This study utilized the theory of planned behavior to examine the rela­tionship between self-perceived stigma, attitudes, normative beliefs, and perceived behavioral con­trol, and their influences on intention to use food pantries. A mixed-methods, 51-item branched sur­vey was administered online to a convenience sam­ple of students (N = 173) at an Appalachian North Carolina state university. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between pantry usage intent and perceived self-stigma, and key the­ory of planned behavior constructs: Attitudes, Normative Beliefs, and Perceived Behavioral Con­trol. Results showed that higher Normative Belief and Perceived Behavioral Control scores were pos­itively associated with intent to use food pantries. In contrast, higher Self-Stigma scores were in­versely related to intent, indicating stigma to be a significant barrier. These findings suggest that increasing communication, accessibility, and nor­malization of pantry use could improve student food access. Overall, the study highlights how stigma and individual beliefs influence help-seeking behavior among college students, and the impor­tance of methodical dissemination of resources and normalization of such help-seeking behaviors (through empowerment counseling support) to enhance the use of food pantries. Further research should explore similar dynamics in other university settings and evaluate the theory of planned behav­ior as a framework for understanding food access behaviors.