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

Cad Saude Publica. 2017 Apr 3;33(3):e00165615. 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.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brazil
  • Chile / epidemiology
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Food Preferences / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Phobic Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Quality of Life
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Students
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities