Food neophobia, life satisfaction and family eating habits in university students.

Berta Schnettler,Natalia Salinas-Oñate,Klaus G Grunert,Yesli Höger,Mercedes Sanchez,Germán Lobos,Ligia Orellana,José Sepúlveda,Marianela Denegri,Horacio Miranda,Edgardo Miranda-Zapata

doi:10.1590/0102-311x00165615

Abstract

The aim of this study was to categorize university students based on their association between food neophobia and levels of subjective well-being, in general and in the food domain, and their perception of their family's eating habits. A survey was conducted among 372 university students from southern Chile. The questionnaire included the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life (SWFL), Health-related Quality of Life Index (HRQOL-4), and Family Eating Habits Questionnaire (FEHQ). Three student types were distinguished by cluster analysis: Group 1 (26.9%) had the highest scores on the FNS, SWLS and SWFL. Group 2 (40.8%) had a high score on the FNS but the lowest scores on the SWLS and SWFL. Group 3 (32.3%) had the lowest FNS score and high scores on the SWLS and SWFL. Group 2 stood out in having a low score on the FEHQ's component for cohesiveness of family eating. These results suggest that both neophobic and non-neophobic students have positive levels of satisfaction with life and food-related life, and that satisfaction among neophobic students is related to family eating patterns, especially cohesiveness in family eating.

Highlights

The aim of this study was to categorize university students based on their association between food neophobia and levels of subjective well-being, in general and in the food domain, and their perception of their family’s eating habits
The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS) scores correlated directly and significantly with the z-score of the “Pressure to eat” component of the Family Eating Habits Questionnaire (FEHQ), which suggests that members of the family group are probably pressuring the neophobic to eat when they are reluctant to try new foods
This study aimed to distinguishing types of university students that differed with regard to their satisfaction with life, satisfaction with food-related life and food neophobia

Summary

Introduction

The aim of this study was to categorize university students based on their association between food neophobia and levels of subjective well-being, in general and in the food domain, and their perception of their family’s eating habits. The questionnaire included the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life (SWFL), Health-related Quality of Life Index (HRQOL-4), and Family Eating Habits Questionnaire (FEHQ). Group 2 stood out in having a low score on the FEHQ’s component for cohesiveness of family eating These results suggest that both neophobic and non-neophobic students have positive levels of satisfaction with life and food-related life, and that satisfaction among neophobic students is related to family eating patterns, especially cohesiveness in family eating. Food neophobia is the avoidance of, or reluctance to eat, new foods. It has been found that food neophobia correlates negatively with variety-seeking 7, with consumption frequency of fruits and vegetables 8 and some socio-demographic characteristics 9

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion