Evaluation of The Relationship Between Sustainable Nutritional Behaviors and Adapting to the Mediterranean Diet in University Students

Öz

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and sustainable healthy eating behaviors among university students. Method: A total of 163 students aged 19–24 years from a university in Turkey participated. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), and the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors scale. Study data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: More than half of the participants (55.8%) reported having no knowledge about sustainable nutrition. Female students had significantly higher Sustainable and Healthy Nutritional Behaviors total scores compared to males (p<0,05). Students from the Faculty of Health Sciences scored higher on both MEDAS and Sustainable and Healthy Nutritional Behaviors compared to other faculties (p<0,05). No significant correlation was found between MEDAS and Sustainable and Healthy Nutritional Behaviors total scores; however, a weak but significant positive correlation was observed between MEDAS and the “seasonal eating” subdimension (r=0.177; p=0.024). Conclusions and Suggestions: Awareness of sustainable nutrition among university students is low. Sustainable nutritional behaviors and compliance with the Mediterranean diet are higher among students of the Faculty of Women and Health Sciences. Integrating sustainability-focused nutrition education into university curricula and implementing awareness programs for young adults are recommended

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sustainable Nutrition
• Mediterranean Diet
• University Students
• Eating Behaviors

Destekleyen Kurum

The study was not supported by any institution.

Etik Beyan

This study is a research article, and the necessary ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (approval date: January 12, 2022; decision number: 2021/641). The study has not been previously published in any journal or elsewhere and has not been submitted to any other journal for publication. There is no conflict of interest among the authors, and the study was not funded by any institution. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, and the data were anonymized to ensure confidentiality.

Teşekkür

We would like to thank the volunteers who participated in the study

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Sürdürülebilir Beslenme Davranışları ve Akdeniz Diyetine Uyum Arasındaki İlişkinin Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Amaç: Bu araştırma, üniversite öğrencilerinde Akdeniz diyetine uyum ile sürdürülebilir ve sağlıklı beslenme davranışları arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yöntem: Çalışma Türkiye’de bir üniversitede 19–24 yaş aralığında 163 öğrenci ile yürütülmüştür. Katılımcılara demografik bilgiler, Akdeniz Diyeti Uyum Ölçeği (MEDAS) ve Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Çalışma verileri uygun istatistiksel yöntemler kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %55,8’inin sürdürülebilir beslenme hakkında bilgisinin olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Kadın öğrencilerin Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları toplam puanları erkeklere kıyasla daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p < 0,05). Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinin hem MEDAS hem de Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları puanları diğer fakülte öğrencilerinden anlamlı derecede yüksektir (p < 0,05). MEDAS ile Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları toplam puanı arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmamış; ancak “mevsime özgü beslenme” alt boyutu ile MEDAS skoru arasında zayıf fakat anlamlı bir pozitif ilişki bulunmuştur (r = 0,177; p = 0,024). Sonuçlar ve Öneriler: Üniversite öğrencilerinde sürdürülebilir beslenme farkındalığı düşük düzeydedir. Kadınlar ve Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinde sürdürülebilir beslenme davranışları ve Akdeniz diyetine uyum daha yüksektir. Sürdürülebilir beslenme bilincinin artırılması için üniversite müfredatlarına eğitim programları eklenmesi ve genç yetişkinlere yönelik farkındalık çalışmalarının yaygınlaştırılması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sürdürülebilir Beslenme
• Akdeniz Diyeti
• Üniversite Öğrencileri
• Beslenme Davranışları

Destekleyen Kurum

Çalışma herhangi bir kurumdan destek almamıştır

Etik Beyan

Bu araştırma, Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesinde eğitim gören öğrenciler ile yürütülmüş olup etik izin Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu’ndan alınmıştır (onay tarihi: 12 Ocak 2022; karar numarası: 2021/641). Veriler Şubat-Haziran 2022 tarihleri arasında toplanmış olup katılımcılardan anketimize katılmaya gönüllü olduğunu bildiren onay izni alınmıştır.

Teşekkür

Çalışmaya gönüllü olan katılımcılara teşekkür ederiz

Kaynakça

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