The relentless surge in food prices, propelled by inflationary pressures, has emerged as a profound source of emotional and psychological distress among Generation Z university students in Hungary. Recent research underscores that food insecurity transcends the mere physical scarcity of nourishment, encompassing an incessant emotional strain rooted in the uncertainty around reliable food access. This uncertainty, as the study reveals, casts a heavy shadow over young people’s mental well-being, particularly affecting young women more acutely, who bear the brunt of this burden with notable intensity.
This exploration utilizes rigorously validated instruments such as the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to accurately gauge both the degree of food insecurity and the resultant symptoms of depression among students. By employing structural equation modeling, the researchers dissect the complex interplay between financial hardship induced by inflation and its multifaceted impacts on how these young individuals feel, function in daily life, and envisage their futures. The findings paint an intricate picture: economic adversity is intricately woven into the fabric of students’ psychological experiences, influencing their motivation, emotional stability, and cognitive outlook.
Yet, the research design comes with inherent constraints that temper the broader applicability of its conclusions. The sample, drawn exclusively from a single Hungarian university, may not encapsulate the full spectrum of experiences encountered by students across the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, a diverse and socioeconomically varied area. Additionally, the study’s reliance on cross-sectional, self-reported data limits the ability to infer causal relationships or detect the prolonged impacts of sustained inflation on mental health. These methodological limitations highlight the critical need for longitudinal studies encompassing multiple institutions to obtain more representative and causally informative data.
Looking forward, the academic community is called upon to deepen investigations into the protracted consequences of inflation-fueled food insecurity on young adults’ mental well-being. This research urges comparative analyses of national interventions across the CEE region to discern which policy frameworks most effectively mitigate these emerging crises. Such comparative work could unearth best practices and innovative solutions that transcend national borders, providing robust templates for resilience building among youth populations grappling with economic instability.
The study advocates passionately for qualitative research to complement quantitative approaches. Rich, narrative-based insights can illuminate the lived realities behind statistics, unveiling the nuanced coping mechanisms students employ when confronted with insecurity. Examining the degree of trust placed in institutional supports and exploring the psychological dimensions of navigating food scarcity could yield transformative understandings and inform policy refinements.
From a policy perspective, this research offers an urgent mandate for universities and governments alike to transcend ephemeral relief efforts. It champions the establishment of durable, holistic support ecosystems within higher education institutions—embodied in initiatives such as subsidized campus cafeterias, well-stocked meal pantries, and accessible emergency financial aid programs—that can alleviate immediate hardship while fostering long-term stability. Equally critical is the integration of mental health services tailored to address the unique stressors posed by food insecurity and economic precarity.
On the national stage, promising strategies implemented in various European countries serve as instructive models. France’s pioneering €1 meal programme for students dramatically lowers financial barriers to sustenance, setting a powerful precedent for affordability and accessibility in campus dining. Poland’s income-based subsidy system efficiently targets resources to those most in need, exemplifying equitable distribution mechanisms. Slovakia’s post-pandemic reforms to enhance food access highlight the potential for policy adaptation in response to evolving crises, underscoring adaptability and responsiveness as key components of effective governance.
The implications extend beyond immediate survival; supporting students confronting economic and nutritional insecurity means investing in the resilience and potential of an entire generation. Enabling Generation Z students to not merely endure but thrive, despite inflationary upheavals, requires coordinated efforts that blend nutritional support with robust mental health infrastructure. Such investments promise dividends that ripple through society, as today’s youth represent the architects of tomorrow’s economies and communities.
Delving deeper into the psychological ramifications, the research supports a growing consensus that food insecurity is fundamentally psychological as much as physiological. Chronic worries about access to reliable food supplies can exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety, destabilizing emotional health and impairing cognitive functions critical for academic success and future planning. This realization compels a paradigm shift: addressing food insecurity must integrate mental health paradigms to holistically support students.
Moreover, the gendered dimension highlighted by the study unveils critical insights about disparities in experiences and impacts. Young women are disproportionately affected, potentially due to intersecting social, economic, and psychological factors that intensify their vulnerability. Unpacking these intricacies is essential to crafting gender-responsive policies and support systems that acknowledge and address differential needs within student populations.
The evident link between inflation-driven economic hardship and deteriorating mental health also challenges existing silos in policy and research. Breaking down these barriers to enable interdisciplinary collaboration—merging economics, psychology, public health, and education—could foster innovative solutions tailored to the complex realities students face today.
Although the current research builds a compelling case on a Hungarian sample, the conditions it reveals resonate across broader contexts. As inflation and food insecurity present global challenges, the study contributes a vital piece of the puzzle, encouraging replication and extension in diverse settings to forge a more comprehensive understanding of this multidimensional crisis.
In conclusion, this study portrays a generation grappling with a confluence of economic instability, food insecurity, and mental health challenges that threaten their academic and personal futures. It foregrounds the urgency for evidence-based, integrated strategies that address both material needs and psychological well-being. Empowering Generation Z students amidst the growing inflation crisis is not merely a matter of social justice but a fundamental investment in society’s collective future.
Subject of Research:
Inflation-driven food insecurity and its psychological impact on Generation Z university students in Hungary.
Article Title:
Inflation, food insecurity, and mental health: Generation Z’s burden in emerging Europe.
Article References:
Jackson, K., Kelemen, Z. & Nagy, Á. Inflation, food insecurity, and mental health: Generation Z’s burden in emerging Europe.
Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1552 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05858-w
Image Credits: AI Generated
