The effect of experiencing basic needs insecurities on GPA in university students

Jonathan K. Noel, Sarah Miller, Sammie Strong, Kelsey A. Gately and Samantha R. Rosenthal

No avj2d_v1, SocArXiv from Center for Open Science

Abstract: College students are at risk of experiencing basic needs insecurities (BNIs), which includes a lack of food, finances, housing, healthcare, transportation, and hygiene. The current study identified the frequency of BNIs in a sample of n = 507 university students and explored associations between BNIs and grade point average (GPA) using a series of regression models. Experiencing any BNI was common (82.6%), and 61.2% reported experiencing 2 or more BNIs concurrently. Experiencing any BNI was negatively associated with GPA (b=-0.45, p=0.010), with food (b=-0.47, p<0.001) and financial (b=-0.42, p=0.003) insecurity as the strongest predictors. A cubic relationship between experiencing BNIs and GPA was identified, such that GPA decreases through experiencing 3 BNIs and increases again when experiencing 4 or more BNIs. Universities should expand supports of basic needs to improve students’ academic achievements, including programming to reduce stigma associated with help-seeking behaviors.

Date: 2025-08-07
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:socarx:avj2d_v1

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/avj2d_v1

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