Research: Understanding Food Insecurity and Diet Quality In Australian University Students

Food insecurity is an increasing issue in Australian higher education, yet its broader impact on student wellbeing is still not well understood. This research investigated how food insecurity, diet quality, physical activity and social connectedness relate to depressive symptoms in 145 University of Canberra students, using validated measures to capture post-pandemic health and wellbeing patterns.

A quarter of students were experiencing severe food insecurity, and diet quality declined as insecurity increased. Nearly 70% reported mild to extremely severe depressive symptoms, with food insecurity emerging as a significant predictor of higher depression scores. Physical activity, diet quality and social connectedness also played a role, though some relationships were complex.

Although limited by its cross-sectional design and single-university sample, this research offers important insights into the pressures facing university students and highlights the need for institutional strategies that improve food access, reduce financial strain, foster social connection and support overall wellbeing.

Citation: O’Neil, S., Minehan, M., Knight-Agarwal, C.R., Lewis, V., Pyne, D.B. Associations between diet quality, food insecurity, physical activity, social connectedness and depressive symptomology in Australian university students: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025. (link)