Navigation
College students and eating habits: a study using an ecological model for healthy behavior
This 2018 explorative study aimed to qualitatively analyse what U.S. college students perceive as the barriers and enablers that influence healthy eating behaviors. A group of Cornell University students (n = 35) participated in six semi-structured focus groups. With the help of a qualitative software (CAQDAS Nvivo11 Plus), common barriers to healthy eating were identified: time constraints; unhealthy snacking; convenience high-calorie food; stress; high prices of healthy foods; and easy access to junk food. Conversely, enablers to healthy behavior were improved food knowledge and education, meal planning, involvement in food preparation, and being physically active. Parental food behavior and friends’ social pressure were considered to have both positive and negative influences on individual dietary habits. Sogari and colleague (2018) point out the importance of consulting college students when developing dietary interventions across the campus as well as considering individual-level factors and socio-ecological aspects in the analysis. [NPID: behavior, college students, university students, college, barriers, food barriers, junk food, meal planning, food preparation, socio-ecological aspects]
Year: 2018
