Abstract

Objective: The aims of our present study were to develop a valid and reliable survey framed around the social cognitive theory, which would evaluate internal and external factors associated with food insecurity from the student's perspective, and to test the survey with a multi-state population. Design: The College Perspectives around Food Insecurity (CPFI) survey was developed through several revision and improvement steps using a mixed methods approach. In Phase 1 (2018-2019), data were translated into survey items and assigned to a theoretical concept (personal, behavioral, or environmental) in the social cognitive theory. In Phase 2 (2019-2020), content validity testing occurred through two rounds of expert reviews. In Phase 3 (2021), researchers conducted two rounds of cognitive interviews with college students to evaluate face validity. In Phase 4 (2022), the survey underwent stability and internal consistency reliability testing. Participants: Three expert reviewers evaluated the initial survey draft during Phase 2. Participants for Phases 3 and 4 were college students at least 18 years old. Analysis: Descriptive statistics (means and frequencies) were used for expert reviewer scores, timing data, and demographics. Researchers used test-retest and Cronbach's alpha to measure survey reliability. Results: The initial survey contained 143 items: 54 personal, 52 behavioral and 37 environmental. After several testing and revision steps the final survey contained 95 items: 40 personal, 26 behavioral, and 29 environmental. Test/retest reliability was 0.989 and Cronbach's alpha scores were 0.47 for personal, 0.39 for behavioral, and 0.74 for environmental. Mean length of time to complete the full survey was 16.38 min (SD=8.88 min). Conclusions and Implications: The CPFI survey can be used to better understand internal and external factors associated with food insecurity in college students which could inform interventions aimed at assisting this population.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Life Sciences; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2023-04-19

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd13150

Keywords

college students, food insecurity, survey research, Social Cognitive Theory

Language

english

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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