Universal School Meal Policies and Perceived Stigma: Quantitative Evidence From Eight US States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Universal school meals (USMs) policies, which provide free meals to all students regardless of income, have the potential to improve child nutrition and reduce stigma. Quantitative evidence on the association between USM and stigma is limited.

Methods

Leveraging a natural policy variation in state-level USM implementation, we surveyed 1066 middle and high school students from eight US states (four with USM, four without) during the 2022-2023 school year. Stigma was measured as self-reported embarrassment about eating school lunch. We used generalized estimating equations to examine the associations between USM, embarrassment, and lunch participation.

Results

Overall about one in nine students (11.5%) across all surveyed states reported embarrassment, which

SUBMITTER: Orta-Aleman D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12676369 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature