Determinants of eating behaviour in university students: a qualitative study using focus group discussions
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: College or university is a critical period regarding unhealthy changes in eating behaviours in students. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore which factors influence Belgian (European) university students' eating behaviour, using a qualitative research design. Furthermore, we aimed to collect ideas and recommendations in order to facilitate the development of effective and tailored intervention programs aiming to improve healthy eating behaviours in university students. METHODS: Using a semi-structured question guide, five focus group discussions have been conducted consisting of 14 male and 21 female university students from a variety of study disciplines, with a mean age of 20.6 ± 1.7 yrs. Using Nvivo9, an inductive thematic approach was used for data analysis. RESULTS: After the transition from secondary school to university, when independency increases, students are continuously challenged to make healthful food choices. Students reported to be influenced by individual factors (e.g. taste preferences, self-discipline, time and convenience), their social networks (e.g. (lack of) parental control, friends and peers), physical environment (e.g. availability and accessibility, appeal and prices of food products), and macro environment (e.g. media and advertising). Furthermore, the relationships between determinants and university students' eating behaviour seemed to be moderated by university characteristics, such as residency, student societies, university lifestyle and exams. Recommendations for university administrators and researchers include providing information and advice to enhance healthy food choices and preparation (e.g. via social media), enhancing self-discipline and self-control, developing time management skills, enhancing social support, and modifying the subjective as well as the objective campus food environment by e.g. making healthy foods price-beneficial and by providing vending machines with more healthy products. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first European study examining perceived determinants of eating behaviour in university students and collecting ideas and recommendations for healthy eating interventions in a university specific setting. University characteristics (residency, exams, etc.) influence the relationships between individual as well as social environmental determinants and university students' eating behaviour, and should therefore be taken into account when designing effective and tailored multilevel intervention programs aiming to improve healthy eating behaviours in university students.
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Young adulthood is a time in which many individuals move away from home and become responsible for their own food choices.
“Young adulthood is a time in which many individuals move away from home and become responsible for their own food choices [55].”
From The association of demographic characteristics and food choice motives with the consumption of functional foods in emerging adults (2020) · cites this paper as [55]
In this life stage, emerging adults gain control over their own finances and food prices begin to have a stronger influence on food choice.
“In this life stage, emerging adults gain control over their own finances and food prices begin to have a stronger influence on food choice [55].”
From The association of demographic characteristics and food choice motives with the consumption of functional foods in emerging adults (2020) · cites this paper as [55]
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- Authors
- Deliens, T., Clarys, P., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Deforche, B.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Deliens, Tom
- Venue
- BMC Public Health
- Published
- 2014-01-18
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 53-53
- ISSN
- 1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3905922
- OpenAlex
- W2070355966
- Cited by
- 633
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 62 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 23.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Keywords
- eating behaviour, university students, healthy eating, food environment, social influences on eating, self-control, social support, campus food environment, healthy eating interventions, student housing, time management
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Belgium, Choice Behavior, Environment, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, Peer Group, Schools, Social Environment, Students, Universities, Health Behavior, Focus Groups, Food Industry, Friends, Qualitative Research, Marketing, Young Adult
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