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Journals / Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2

Determination of Food Neophobia in Municipal Employees: A cross-sectional study

Bir Grup Belediye Çalışanında Besin Neofobisinin Saptanması: Kesitsel bir çalışma

Merve Engün(Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi)0009-0009-3612-9598
Melike Nur Çelikayar(FENERBAHÇE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0004-2330-8152
Bahar Yalçın(Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi)0000-0003-4036-7096
Muazzez Garipağoğlu(Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi)0000-0003-2172-1467
Pages
166–174
Publication Date
2025-08-29
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

Additionally, raising awareness about food neophobia and implementing strategies to improve attitudes towards different foods is recommended.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The aim of this study was to determine the levels of food neophobia in a group of municipal employees in Bursa and to examine the relationship between this condition and various factors.
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Key Findings & Data:This study was conducted with 205 participants aged 18-65 years working in a municipality in Bursa between September and November 2024.
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Conclusion & Impact:Additionally, raising awareness about food neophobia and implementing strategies to improve attitudes towards different foods is recommended.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Besin neofobisi · besin · cinsiyet

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of food neophobia in a group of municipal employees in Bursa and to examine the relationship between this condition and various factors. This study was conducted with 205 participants aged 18-65 years working in a municipality in Bursa between September and November 2024. Sociodemographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of the individuals were collected by face-to-face questionnaire method. Food neophobia levels were evaluated with the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS). SPSS 29.0 software was used for statistical analysis. The mean age of the individuals was 39.00±9.84 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.82±3.38 kg/m². The mean neophobia score was found to be significantly higher in men (39.85±10.34) compared to women (36.03±11.68). It was determined that the most common food fear was towards the vegetable-fruit group, followed by cereal products and meat products. A weak positive association (r=0.151 p<0.05, r=0.185 p<0.05) was identified between age and BMI with the food neophobia scale score, while a weak inverse relationship (r=-0.188, p<0.05, r=-0.177 p<0.05) was noted between gender and education level. These findings highlight the importance of training to increase food diversity and improve healthy eating habits in municipal employees. Additionally, raising awareness about food neophobia and implementing strategies to improve attitudes towards different foods is recommended.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Bursa'da bir grup belediye çalışanının besin neofobisi düzeylerini belirlemek ve bu durumun çeşitli faktörlerle ilişkisini incelemektir. Yöntem: Bu çalışma Eylül-Kasım 2024 tarihleri arasında Bursa'da bir belediyede çalışan 18-65 yaş arası 205 katılımcı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bireylerin sosyodemografik özellikleri ve antropometrik ölçümleri yüz yüze anket yöntemi ile toplanmıştır. Besin neofobi düzeyleri Besin Neofobi Ölçeği (FNS) ile değerlendirilmiştir. İstatistiksel analiz için SPSS 29.0 yazılımı kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Bireylerin yaş ortalaması 39.00±9.84 yıl ve ortalama beden kütle indeksi (BKİ) 24.82±3.38 kg/m² olduğu bulunmuştur. Ortalama neofobi skoru erkeklerde (39.85±10.34) kadınlara (36.03±11.68) göre anlamlı olarak yüksek bulunmuştur. En yaygın besin neofobisinin sebze-meyve grubuna yönelik olduğu, bunu tahıl ürünleri ve et ürünlerinin izlediği belirlenmiştir. Yaş ve BKİ ile besin neofobisi ölçeği puanı arasında pozitif yönde zayıf bir ilişki (r=0,151 p<0,05, r=0,185 p<0,05) bulunurken, cinsiyet ve eğitim düzeyi ile besin neofobisi ölçek puanı arasında ters yönde zayıf bir ilişki (r=-0,188, p<0,05, r=-0,177 p<0,05) olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Sonuçlar: Bu bulgular, belediye çalışanlarında besin çeşitliliğini artırmak ve sağlıklı beslenme alışkanlıklarını geliştirmek için eğitimin önemini vurgulamaktadır. Ayrıca, besin neofobisi konusunda farkındalığın artırılması ve farklı besinlere yönelik tutumların iyileştirilmesi için stratejilerin uygulanması önerilmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Engün, M., Çelikayar, M. N., Yalçın, B., Garipağoğlu, M. (2025). Determination of Food Neophobia in Municipal Employees: A cross-sectional study. Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2, 166–174. https://doi.org/10.56061/fbujohs.1637742

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