Exploring college students’ eating patterns during a global health crisis: a qualitative approach using the social ecological model

The purpose of this study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the experience of the pandemic on U.S. college students' eating patterns, using the Social Ecological Model as a framework. Individual online interviews with 21 college students were conducted, and transcribed interviews were analyzed using a deductive content analysis approach. The findings revealed that intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, and policy factors influenced college students’ eating behaviors during the pandemic. These findings can inform guidelines and recommendations for college foodservice operations, restaurants, and other relevant organizations to support healthy eating habits among students during future outbreaks.