Objective: To examine the joint effects of food insecurity and housing instability on academic attrition among college students.
Participants: A representative sample of 3,160 matriculated students from the City University of New York (CUNY).
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Fall 2023. Food insecurity was assessed using USDA's Six-Item Food Security Module; Housing instability included inability to pay rent/mortgage or utilities. Academic attrition was defined as college withdrawal or academic probation. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated using log-binomial regression. Additive interaction was assessed using relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).
Results: Students experiencing both insecurities had over twice the risk of attrition (aPR 2.16, 95%CI: 1.83-2.20). Housing instability posed a greater risk than food insecurity alone (aPR 1.55 vs. 1.30). RERI indicated a synergistic effect (RERI = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.08-0.54).
Conclusions: Addressing both food and housing insecurity may reduce academic attrition and support student success.
Keywords: Attrition; GPA; food insecurity; housing; retention.