Zibuyile Mposula^1,2*, Judit Szepesi¹, Maha Rockaya¹, Dea Ismajli^1,2 and Endre Máthé^1,3

¹Institute of Nutrition Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Boszormenyi Str. 128, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
²Doctoral School of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Boszormenyi Str. 128, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
³Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, L. Rebreanu Str. 86, RO-310414 Arad, Romania

*Corresponding Author: Zibuyile Mposula, Institute of Nutrition Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Boszormenyi Str. 128, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.

Received: June 11, 2026; Published: July 06, 2026

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity is increasingly recognised as a public health concern among university students, particularly among international students who may face cultural financial, social, and environmental challenges while studying abroad. Although the prevalence of food insecurity among university students has been widely investigated, less is known about the coping strategies adopted in response to food access constraints. This study assessed the prevalence of food insecurity and examined coping strategies used by international students in Hungary according to food security status.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 international students enrolled at Hungarian universities between June 2022 and January 2024. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and the Coping Strategy Index (CSI). Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics, food insecurity status, and coping strategy use. Mean frequency scores were calculated to rank coping strategies, and coping behaviour patterns were examined across food security categories. Pearson's chi-square tests were used to assess associations between food insecurity status and coping strategies.

Results: Among the participants, 38% were classified as food secure, while 31% were moderately food insecure and 31% were severely food insecure. The most frequently reported coping strategies were relying on less expensive and preferred foods (mean score = 2.58), limiting portion sizes (2.15), reducing the number of meals consumed per day (2.12), and requesting additional financial support from family members (1.99). Coping strategy use increased progressively with worsening food insecurity. Reliance on less expensive foods increased from a mean score of 1.83 among food secure students to 3.17 among severely food insecure students. Similar trends were observed for limiting portion sizes (1.47 to 2.77) and reducing the number of meals consumed per day (1.44 to 2.73). Significant associations were observed between food insecurity status and all coping strategies assessed (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Food insecurity affected approximately six in ten international students in Hungary and was associated with increased reliance on a range of coping strategies. Students experiencing greater food insecurity reported more frequent use of both dietary adjustment and crisis-oriented coping behaviours, indicating that coping responses become progressively more severe as food access challenges intensify. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve food access, financial support, and student wellbeing among international student populations.

Keywords: Food Insecurity; Coping Strategies; Coping Strategy Index; Food Insecurity Experience Scale; International Students; University Students; Food Access

Abbreviations: CSI: Coping Strategy Index; FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization; FIES: Food Insecurity Experience Scale; SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

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Citation

Citation: Zibuyile Mposula., et al. “Coping Strategies in Response to Food Insecurity Among International Students in Hungary". Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 10.7 (2026): 28-36.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Zibuyile Mposula., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.