Food Insecurity was Associated With Poorer Sleep Quality and Increased Stress Among Dental Students at a HBCU and a Predominantly White School

Brian Laurence; Teresa A Marshall; Fang Qian; Gillian Robinson-Warner; Archana Kumar; Nidhi Handoo; Cari Anderson

doi:10.1002/jdd.70067

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Food Insecurity was Associated With Poorer Sleep Quality and Increased Stress Among Dental Students at a HBCU and a Predominantly White School

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Food Insecurity was Associated With Poorer Sleep Quality and Increased Stress Among Dental Students at a HBCU and a Predominantly White School

Brian Laurence, Teresa A Marshall, Fang Qian, Gillian Robinson-Warner, Archana Kumar, Nidhi Handoo and Cari Anderson

Journal of dental education, Vol.90(7), pp.1044-1053

07/2026

DOI: 10.1002/jdd.70067

PMID: 41116677

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Abstract

The prevalence of food insecurity (FI) and its associated outcomes among undergraduate students have been widely researched, however studies focusing on FI among professional students are limited. This study investigated the associations between FI, sleep-related variables, and stress among dental students from predominantly Black and White dental schools in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included dental students enrolled at a Historically Black College and University (Howard) and a predominately White (Iowa) dental school in the Fall of 2021. Five sleep-related and stress outcomes were measured as dichotomous variables. The associations between FI and the outcome variables were assessed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Mean age of the participants was 25.8 ± 3.3 years; 46% reported being food insecure. In a comprehensive multivariable model that included both Howard and Iowa students, FI was a significant (p < 0.05) predictor of poorer sleep quality and more frequent troublesome sleep. In stratified bivariate analyses, FI was also strongly (p < 0.05) associated with adverse sleep outcomes at both Howard and Iowa dental schools. Students attending Howard had higher odds of frequent troublesome sleep compared to students attending Iowa (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.17-7.28). Furthermore, FI was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with higher stress levels across all analyses. Our findings are consistent with prior studies reporting associations between FI and poorer sleep outcomes and increased stress in both Black and White dental students.

Sleep Disorders

Stress

dental students

food insecurity

HBCU

UIOWA OA Agreement

Details

Title: Subtitle: Food Insecurity was Associated With Poorer Sleep Quality and Increased Stress Among Dental Students at a HBCU and a Predominantly White School
Creators: Brian Laurence - Howard University
Teresa A Marshall - University of Iowa
Fang Qian - University of Iowa
Gillian Robinson-Warner - Howard University
Archana Kumar - University of Iowa
Nidhi Handoo - University of Iowa, Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine
Cari Anderson - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of dental education, Vol.90(7), pp.1044-1053
DOI: 10.1002/jdd.70067
PMID: 41116677
NLM abbreviation: J Dent Educ
ISSN: 0022-0337
eISSN: 1930-7837
Publisher: Wiley
Grant note: University of Iowa's College of Dentistry's Michael W. Finkelstein Centennial Professorship of Teaching
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 10/20/2025
Date published: 07/2026
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; School of Social Work; Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9985019042402771

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