A Preliminary Study of Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students' Training in Food Insecurity Assessment and Resource Provision

Abstract

Food insecurity (FI) is common among people with mental illness and is associated with poor health outcomes, suggesting that equipping future psychologists with skills to address FI would be beneficial. We assessed basic FI knowledge and training among clinical psychology doctoral students in the United States and Canada. Graduate students were recruited through psychology listservs and internet postings to complete an online survey about their training experience in FI assessment and resource provision. Students (n=155) reported familiarity with the term FI but not with resources to address it. Less than 10% of students had received any training in FI assessment or resource provision as part of their graduate training, but the majority (over 80%) wished they had received this training. Clinical psychology doctoral students generally do not receive training in FI assessment and resource provision but want this training. Graduate programs should consider adding curricula to address this gap.