Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
8-2023
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Communication
Degree Program
Communication, MA
Committee Chair
Della, Lindsay
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Smith-Jones, Siobhan
Committee Member
Smith-Jones, Siobhan
Committee Member
King, Kristi
Author's Keywords
campus food pantry, food insecurity in college
Abstract
Objective: This study examined differences between users and non-users of campus food pantry, conducted communication audit, and made recommendations for future food pantry communication. Methods: Cross-sectional twofold study, first analyzing existing intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental data to test predictors of campus food pantry usage characteristics, using inferential statistics. Secondly, conducting a communication audit that evaluates the reach of student communication. Results: Significant differences were found between users and non-users of food pantry that support hypotheses in relation to gender, age, race, class, marital status, housing type, housing description, and Pell eligibility. Findings could not support hypothesized differences in first-generation status. Research question data showed there is room for tailored out-going communication v improvement and growing awareness of the campus food pantry among students. Conclusions: With respect to the predictors of food insecurity, the campus food pantry appears to be serving those in need.
Recommended Citation
Hayes, Bunny Marie, "Promotional communication for a college food pantry: findings from a cross-sectional assessment of socioecological variables related to past use of a campus-based food pantry." (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4163.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/4163
