The correlation of eating behavior with food preference motivation and personality related factors among adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays prevention of disease and maintenance of health are among the most important national and international aims. Research projects of health behavior are focused on examining the aspects of healthy and unhealthy lifestyles. Nutrition is especially an important part of health behavior, because obesity and related diseases are a serious burden at both individual and societal level. The appropriate eating habits should be elaborated as early as from childhood, but adolescence is the most sensitive period when people should pay attention to adequate quantity and quality of nutrient intake regarding changes in body and mind. Therefore, in our research we aimed to measure adolescents’ eating habits, behavior and motivations. Besides, we also investigated the relationship of some personality variables (self-control, optimism/pessimism, self-efficacy) with eating behavior and motivations. Methods: Our study was going on with the participation of 97 high school students in Budapest. The mean age of the sample was 17.4 years, standard deviation was 1.5 years, and 70.1% of the participants were girls. For collecting data we used self-administered questionnaire. Results: Our results suggest that the frequency of breakfast and eating with the family is less than it has been expected. From the aspect of eating behavior we can assess that optimism, self-control and self-efficacy to a smaller degree have a health protective role in contrary of pessimism. Eating motivations are different in consuming healthy and risky foods: in the case of healthy diet health is the major motivation factor, while behind unhealthy diet affective influences, habits, social norms and image are in the background. Personality related factors may influence not only eating behavior but also motivations. Conclusion: These results may be used for working out preventive programs based on adolescents’ food choice preferences.