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Journals / Samsun Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2025 / Cilt: 10 Sayı: 3

Evaluation of The Relationship Between Sustainable Nutritional Behaviors and Adapting to the Mediterranean Diet in University Students

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Sürdürülebilir Beslenme Davranışları ve Akdeniz Diyetine Uyum Arasındaki İlişkinin Değerlendirilmesi

Canan Asal Ulus(ONDOKUZ MAYIS ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-0170-976X
Merve Samancı(AVRASYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0002-5401-3299
Pınar Sökülmez Kaya(ONDOKUZ MAYIS ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-4865-4268
Tuğçe Erçuval(Başakşehir Çam ve Sakura Şehir Hastanesi)0009-0007-5955-5798
Pages
419–433
Publication Date
2025-12-25
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Integrating sustainability-focused nutrition education into university curricula and implementing awareness programs for young adults are recommended

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and sustainable healthy eating behaviors among university students.
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Key Findings & Data:Method: A total of 163 students aged 19–24 years from a university in Turkey participated.
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Conclusion & Impact:Integrating sustainability-focused nutrition education into university curricula and implementing awareness programs for young adults are recommended
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sürdürülebilir Beslenme · Akdeniz Diyeti · Üniversite Öğrencileri

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and sustainable healthy eating behaviors among university students. Method: A total of 163 students aged 19–24 years from a university in Turkey participated. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), and the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors scale. Study data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: More than half of the participants (55.8%) reported having no knowledge about sustainable nutrition. Female students had significantly higher Sustainable and Healthy Nutritional Behaviors total scores compared to males (p<0,05). Students from the Faculty of Health Sciences scored higher on both MEDAS and Sustainable and Healthy Nutritional Behaviors compared to other faculties (p<0,05). No significant correlation was found between MEDAS and Sustainable and Healthy Nutritional Behaviors total scores; however, a weak but significant positive correlation was observed between MEDAS and the “seasonal eating” subdimension (r=0.177; p=0.024). Conclusions and Suggestions: Awareness of sustainable nutrition among university students is low. Sustainable nutritional behaviors and compliance with the Mediterranean diet are higher among students of the Faculty of Women and Health Sciences. Integrating sustainability-focused nutrition education into university curricula and implementing awareness programs for young adults are recommended

Özet

Amaç: Bu araştırma, üniversite öğrencilerinde Akdeniz diyetine uyum ile sürdürülebilir ve sağlıklı beslenme davranışları arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yöntem: Çalışma Türkiye’de bir üniversitede 19–24 yaş aralığında 163 öğrenci ile yürütülmüştür. Katılımcılara demografik bilgiler, Akdeniz Diyeti Uyum Ölçeği (MEDAS) ve Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Çalışma verileri uygun istatistiksel yöntemler kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %55,8’inin sürdürülebilir beslenme hakkında bilgisinin olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Kadın öğrencilerin Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları toplam puanları erkeklere kıyasla daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p < 0,05). Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinin hem MEDAS hem de Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları puanları diğer fakülte öğrencilerinden anlamlı derecede yüksektir (p < 0,05). MEDAS ile Sürdürülebilir ve Sağlıklı Beslenme Davranışları toplam puanı arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmamış; ancak “mevsime özgü beslenme” alt boyutu ile MEDAS skoru arasında zayıf fakat anlamlı bir pozitif ilişki bulunmuştur (r = 0,177; p = 0,024). Sonuçlar ve Öneriler: Üniversite öğrencilerinde sürdürülebilir beslenme farkındalığı düşük düzeydedir. Kadınlar ve Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinde sürdürülebilir beslenme davranışları ve Akdeniz diyetine uyum daha yüksektir. Sürdürülebilir beslenme bilincinin artırılması için üniversite müfredatlarına eğitim programları eklenmesi ve genç yetişkinlere yönelik farkındalık çalışmalarının yaygınlaştırılması önerilmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Ulus, C. A., Samancı, M., Kaya, P. S., Erçuval, T. (2025). Evaluation of The Relationship Between Sustainable Nutritional Behaviors and Adapting to the Mediterranean Diet in University Students. Samsun Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 3, 419–433. https://doi.org/10.47115/jshs.1776560

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