Eating behaviours of Gdynia Maritime University students regarding the consumption of beverages as a source of water

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to characterise the nutritional behaviour of Gdynia Maritime University students in terms of consuming various types of drinks as a water source. Moreover, the aim was to analyse the determinants of these behaviours in the context of selected socioeconomic parameters that differentiate the studied group of respondents. Design/methodology/approach: The tool used to conduct the study was a survey questionnaire. The questions concerned the nutritional behaviour of students regarding the consumption of beverages as a source of water and the conditions for their diversity. Findings: The main source of water for students was mineral water. Unfortunately, it is associated with environmental pollution related to the packaging of this water (PET bottle). The second important source of water was tap water. This should be considered a manifestation of a developing trend in health-promoting, ecological and economic behaviours among the students. None of the socioeconomic factors differentiated students' behaviours when choosing bottled water. Research limitations/implications: Students constitute a specific group of respondents. It should be expected that their current behaviours will reflect the behaviour of a wider society group, but only in the future. Therefore, the results obtained in this study can be considered limited, especially in the short term. Thus, this study should be conducted in a group of older respondents. Then, the following study should be repeated on older respondents in the distant future. On this basis, it is possible to verify how the change behaviours of respondents over time. The obtained results should allow us to verify the assumption that students' behaviours can be treated as indicators of the behaviours of the future society. Practical implications: Consumers' eating behaviour regarding water consumption has health and environmental consequences. This approach to analysing water consumption is strategic because it concerns the direct and indirect impact on human health and quality of life. Originality/value: The study results were used to formulate conclusions regarding behaviours that determine human health, the state of the environment and, consequently, quality of life. Keywords: eating behaviour, bottled water, tap water, determinants of water choice, impact on the environment, freshwater deficit. Category of the paper: Research paper