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The effect of nutrition education and the differences in dietary intake and factors influencing intake according to personality preferences for a sample of college students
Abstract
The purposes of this study were (1) to determine whether differences exist in dietary intake and the factors influencing dietary intake according to personality preferences for a sample of college students, and (2) to determine the effect of an introductory nutrition class upon students' dietary intake and the factors influencing dietary intake according to personality preferences. Students from three large introductory nutrition classes and 26 other classes at the University of Nebraska were recruited to participate. Students (n = 331) completed a scannable version of the HHHQ food frequency, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, and a survey of the factors influencing their diets. A pre-, post, plus nine-month post-treatment/control design was used to assess the changes as a result of the nutrition education. Dietary intake was compared using an adapted version of the Diet Quality Index and the Food Guide Pyramid recommended servings. Accounting for gender, ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA were used to determine significant differences. Students preferring Extraversion, Intuition, or Judgement had tendencies for better dietary habits. Extraverts, in comparison to Introverts, had significantly higher intakes of grain (p $\le$ 0.01) and fruit (p $\le$ 0.05) servings, with an overall superior diet quality index (p $\le$ 0.01). Intuitives, in comparison to Sensing, had a superior diet quality index (p $\le$ 0.05), consumed more frequent breakfasts per week (p $\le$.05) and a had lower percentage of calories from sweets (p $\le$ 0.01). Those preferring Judgement, as compared to those preferring Perception, consumed a significantly lower percentage of calories from alcohol and more frequent breakfasts (p $\le$ 0.05), and had an elevated concern for weight and health (p $\le$ 0.01). The introductory nutrition class treatment was not as effective as desired, but those preferring Judgement significantly decreased their percentage of calories from fat (p $\le$ 0.05). Additional research examining the relationship between personality and dietary quality is necessary with a variety of audiences. Suggestions are made for improving nutrition education effectiveness considering personality, methods, the messages, and the affect of stages of change and other health behavior models.
Subject Area
Nutrition|Health education
Recommended Citation
Horacek, Tanya Marie, "The effect of nutrition education and the differences in dietary intake and factors influencing intake according to personality preferences for a sample of college students" (1996). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9712513.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9712513