Track: Undergraduate Research Competition

Abstract

In the Philippines, one of the problems it is facing is the rise and long-term stay of Food Insecurity among Filipinos. 54.9 million Filipinos are food insecure according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification or IPC in 2020. Inconsistent access to food is related to students' poor physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. Students who experience food insecurity exhibit increased stress risks, worsening sleeping patterns, irregular eating habits, and worse academic success than food-secure individuals. The main objective of this study is to determine the correlation of food insecurity indicators and the academic performance of college students among University Belt Manila. This study focuses on the correlation between Food Insecurity Indicators and Academic Performance, the four (4) Food Insecurity Independent Indicators (Independent variables) are Food Insecurity Prevalence, Food Insecurity Severity, Meal Totality, and Food Budget. Academic Performance Dependent Variables will be General Weighted Average (GWA), Class Participation, and Class Attentiveness. Structural Equation Modeling or SEM statistical analysis is used in this study, upon conducting a 300-sample statistical analysis on SPSS Basic and AMOS, the results shows that Food Insecurity Prevalence has correlation to Class Attentiveness, Food Insecurity Severity has correlation to both GWA and Class Participation, and Food Budget has correlation with Class Attentiveness. In conclusion, there is a correlation between Food Insecurity indicators and Academic Performance among University-Belt students staying in dormitories in the academic year 2022 - 2023. Widening the knowledge on Food Insecurity on its possible effects on student’s academic performance, would be more beneficial to the community. These outcomes enable future researchers to carry out this study by providing or seeking government solutions to affected individuals within Manila.