Knowledge, attitudes, and label use among college students

J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Dec;107(12):2130-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.09.001.

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among nutrition education, knowledge, attitude, use of nutritional supplements, and label reading behavior among 537 randomly selected college students using a conceptual model. The majority of the respondents were women, undergraduate students, and nonsmokers. The mean age was 23+/-6.1 years. A higher percentage of undergraduate students and women had prior exposure to nutrition education, a positive attitude, and greater knowledge of food labels as compared to their graduate and male peers. The structural equation model indicated nutrition education, age, sex, and attitude predicted label use; prior nutrition education and a positive attitude exhibited the strongest (direct) effects on label reading behavior. Attitude mediated the relationship between knowledge and label reading behavior. The indexes of fit for the tested model indicated a good fit; the predictors accounted for 44% of the variance in label usage.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Food Labeling*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Pilot Projects
  • Students
  • Universities