Using Poverty Simulation to Help Nutrition Students Develop Sensitivity Toward Low-Income Individuals

Objective: Explore the effects of poverty simulation integrated into an upper level nutrition course as a preparation for working with low income individuals. Background: The number of poor people is increasing in United States. Nutrition students need to understand the constraints of living in poverty and its relationship to nutrition and health. Method: A total of 123 students in an upper level course underwent poverty simulation to be sensitize to the realities of living in a typical low-income family. A pre-and post-questionnaire were administered to measure the impact of the simulation on the student's sensitivity towards poverty. Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results:Thirty two percent of the students strongly agreed that the community does not provide efficient services to help low income families after the simulation. Most of the students did not change their thinking about causes of poverty after the simulation. Conclusion: Poverty simulation did not significantly alter the students'sensitivity towards low-income individuals, but they identified that the community needs to provide a more effective and efficient services. Implication:Results suggests that incorporating experiential learning in a nutrition course can help student develop a more empathetic understanding of poverty.