Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns
The transition from adolescence to young adulthood may be associated with unfavorable changes in food intake due to some substantial transformations in social life and environment. Factors that affect food choices and diet quality during early adulthood are still not well-recognized. This paper aims...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3399 |
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| author | Patryk Pokorski Robert Nicewicz Marzena Jeżewska-Zychowicz |
| author_facet | Patryk Pokorski Robert Nicewicz Marzena Jeżewska-Zychowicz |
| author_sort | Patryk Pokorski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The transition from adolescence to young adulthood may be associated with unfavorable changes in food intake due to some substantial transformations in social life and environment. Factors that affect food choices and diet quality during early adulthood are still not well-recognized. This paper aims to explore the relationship between females’ childhood food experiences related to parents’ monitoring practices and healthy eating guidance, perceived nutrition concerns, changes in food intake during university studies, and diet quality. A cross-sectional study with the use of CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) was carried out on 657 female students aged 19–30 years. Beliefs and Eating Habits Questionnaire (KomPAN) was used to assess the frequency of eating various kinds of food and then to calculate the diet-quality index (DQI). Adults’ Memories of Feeding in Childhood (AMoFiC) questionnaire was used to assess food experiences from childhood, and Health Concern Scale (HCS) was used to assess nutrition concerns. Associations between changes in food intake, diet quality, and selected factors describing the study sample were verified using logistic regression analysis. The DQI of the majority of students indicated a low intensity of nonhealthy and pro-healthy dietary characteristics. The intensity was higher among nutrition and health students, those with low nutrition concerns, and those with childhood experiences of monitoring. The chances of a negative change in food intake were increased by a higher score for childhood food experiences associated with parents’ monitoring practices. The chances of a negative DQI were increased by bigger concerns about nutrition and by technical and agricultural majors; however, they were reduced by positive changes in food intake. Both childhood food experiences and perceived nutrition concerns should be factored into strategies aimed at improving youth diet and educating parents about effective parental feeding practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:00:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77717b09d6744f2e8dce0c0a0d292012 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:00:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-77717b09d6744f2e8dce0c0a0d2920122023-12-03T14:14:50ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-08-011416339910.3390/nu14163399Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition ConcernsPatryk Pokorski0Robert Nicewicz1Marzena Jeżewska-Zychowicz2Faculty of Human Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Human Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandThe transition from adolescence to young adulthood may be associated with unfavorable changes in food intake due to some substantial transformations in social life and environment. Factors that affect food choices and diet quality during early adulthood are still not well-recognized. This paper aims to explore the relationship between females’ childhood food experiences related to parents’ monitoring practices and healthy eating guidance, perceived nutrition concerns, changes in food intake during university studies, and diet quality. A cross-sectional study with the use of CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) was carried out on 657 female students aged 19–30 years. Beliefs and Eating Habits Questionnaire (KomPAN) was used to assess the frequency of eating various kinds of food and then to calculate the diet-quality index (DQI). Adults’ Memories of Feeding in Childhood (AMoFiC) questionnaire was used to assess food experiences from childhood, and Health Concern Scale (HCS) was used to assess nutrition concerns. Associations between changes in food intake, diet quality, and selected factors describing the study sample were verified using logistic regression analysis. The DQI of the majority of students indicated a low intensity of nonhealthy and pro-healthy dietary characteristics. The intensity was higher among nutrition and health students, those with low nutrition concerns, and those with childhood experiences of monitoring. The chances of a negative change in food intake were increased by a higher score for childhood food experiences associated with parents’ monitoring practices. The chances of a negative DQI were increased by bigger concerns about nutrition and by technical and agricultural majors; however, they were reduced by positive changes in food intake. Both childhood food experiences and perceived nutrition concerns should be factored into strategies aimed at improving youth diet and educating parents about effective parental feeding practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3399diet qualityfood intakeparental feeding practiceschildhood food experiencesnutrition concernsyoung women |
| spellingShingle | Patryk Pokorski Robert Nicewicz Marzena Jeżewska-Zychowicz Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns Nutrients diet quality food intake parental feeding practices childhood food experiences nutrition concerns young women |
| title | Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns |
| title_full | Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns |
| title_fullStr | Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns |
| title_short | Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns |
| title_sort | diet quality and changes in food intake during the university studies in polish female young adults linkages with food experiences from childhood and perceived nutrition concerns |
| topic | diet quality food intake parental feeding practices childhood food experiences nutrition concerns young women |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/16/3399 |
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