(P02-026-25) Food Security, Acculturation, and Perceived Stress Among South Asian International Trainees at a Southern U.S. University

Objectives: Determine the prevalence of food security and association with perceived stress and healthy eating barriers in South Asian international trainees at a southern university in the U.S.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 51 South Asian international graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at a southern university in the U.S. were recruited. Sociodemographic data was collected. Food security was assessed using USDA’s, 6-item Household Food Security Survey. Acculturation and perceived stress were assessed using a previously validated survey. Very low and low food secure were considered as food insecure while high to marginal food secure was considered as food secure. Descriptive data are presented as means (standard deviations [SD]) and frequency (percentages [%]). Independent t-test was used to study group differences.

Results: Among 51 trainees, 48 were graduate students and 3 were postdoctoral fellows. The mean age was 28.41 (4.22) years, and 26 (51%) were females. Majority were from India 24 (47%) and Bangladesh 18 (35%).  Income was < 20,000 in 21 (41%). The prevalence of very low, low, and high or marginal food security was 12 (23.5%), 13 (25.5%), and 26 (51%), respectively. Regarding acculturation, 32 (~63%) had moderate to strong traditional beliefs. Among the participants, 24 (47%) had a high to moderate preference for eating a staple diet of rice, dhal, chapatis, vegetables and yogurt and about 21 (41%) used spices for health and healing. Almost all 48 trainees (94%) mentioned that it is difficult to find traditional food locally. Among 30 participants who completed an additional survey, the perceived stress score was significantly higher in the food insecure group than in the food secure group (t=-2.17, df=28, p=0.038).

Conclusions: The prevalence of food insecurity among South Asian international graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at a southern university is notably high at 49%. Food insecurity was significantly associated with higher perceived stress. These findings underscore the need for targeted resources/interventions to improve food security in South Asian international students at southern university.

Funding Sources: Undergraduate Research Track-5: REU Development Grants by the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, University of Mississippi.