Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Language Barrier Contributions To Food Insecurity In Spanish-Speaking Populations, Amin Khan, Leeza Kumar, Edanur Kilic, Stephen Acheampong

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Food insecurity refers to a household or individual’s inability to access adequate food to obtain a healthy lifestyle. This contributes to health concerns such as birth defects, low nutritional intake, anemia, cognitive problems, mental health disorders, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Low-income rural community members lack access to full grocery stores and often turn to convenience stores with unhealthy, expensive, and fewer food options. The aim of this study was to determine how language barriers affect Spanish-speaking populations with limited English proficiency. The research for this project was obtained from Google, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Keywords included “health disparities,” “Spanish-speaking,” …

Food Insecurity And Dietary Restrictions, Courtney Williams, Savana Rodriguez, Tiffany Guerrero, Stephen Acheampong, Vanesa Pizutelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

According to the USDA Food Insecurity affects around 10.2 percent of the US population as of 2021. For families that have members with certain dietary restriction such as, but not limited to diabetes, hypertension, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, and food allergies, the challenge of securing food becomes an even greater burden with having to navigate food banks or discount stores that may not offer food items that meet their dietary requirements. Families with dietary restrictions often face greater food insecurity and less access to food. More research is needed to understand the challenges families with dietary restrictions face regarding food …

Cultural Food Accomodations In South New Jersey, Anahit Stepanyan, Resty Mercado, David Jiang

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

NJ is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, each bringing their own unique customs and traditions. Of these traditions, diet and food are one of the most renowned distinctions and some of the most celebrated.

In response, several Public School districts have made halal and kosher food reforms to accommodate the rise in the Muslim and Jewish student body.

These menu accommodations were made in response to concerns about a lack of halal food options, which negatively impacted Muslim and Jewish students' health and mental well-being and can be recognized as a health disparity disadvantaging Muslim American student …

Indigenous Experiences Of Social Services, Oaklin Blaisdell, Haley West, Sammy Ellie Mackinnon, Brianna White

Thinking Matters Symposium

Native, Aboriginal, and First Nations individuals experience higher rates of homelessness, food insecurity, sexual violence, and other social inequalities than people of other races (Christensen et al., 2017; Shoemaker et al., 2020; Du Mont et al., 2017; Wahab & Olson, 2004; McCarron et al., 2018; Moullin et al., 2019; Myhra et al., 2015; Stevens et al., 2015; Cueva et al, 2020), and there is a distinct lack of resources for these individuals. However, when individuals do access available resources, they often experience anti-Native sentiment (Hoss & Blum, 2019; Pedersen et al, 2006). Thus, we hope to learn about Indigenous peoples’ …

The Advocacy And Rhetoric Of Students Experiencing Hunger In The Pursuit Of College Degrees, Mckenzie Goff

Scholars Week

The following proposal is examining the interaction between college rhetoric of hunger with the self-advocacy of students experiencing food insecurity. The study will be a face to face interview with 20 students of any gender, between the ages of 19 and 25. The face to face interview will cover questions on experiences in food insecurity as well as comfort level when partaking in self-advocacy and it will be followed up with an email with the same questions. The results of this study will be used to examine current rhetoric of hunger used by college administrations to reform said rhetoric.

"Four Years Of Ramen And Poverty": Using Photovoice To Engage The Voices Of Food Insecure Students, Miranda B. Klugesherz

Center for Engagement and Community Development

My research employs Photovoice, a participant-led research method in which participants share their experience with a particular phenomenon through photographs, to generate understanding of the challenges faced by students who experience hunger. The photos are used to facilitate dialogue among participants, rendering it an ideal way to engage the voices of marginalized populations.