Amanda Miller

Publication Date

2014

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Umoren, Josephine M.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences

LCSH

College students--Nutrition--Study and teaching; Nutrition--Study and teaching; Diet--Study and teaching

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the factors that influence the food choices of college commuter students. An online survey was distributed to all undergraduate students 18 years or older who lived outside of the county that encompasses the university and were full-time (n=7,056). A total of 221 eligible students completed the survey. Multinomial cumulative and binary logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between various factors and the healthiness of participants' diets. Additionally, Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to analyze the importance of specific variables on the food choices of participants. Cost, convenience, and health concerns appeared to influence the food choices of commuter students significantly more than weight control (p<0.001). Students who were more influenced by health (p=0.019) and those who lived with their parents (p=0.014) were more likely to bring food from home, which has been previously associated with higher dietary quality. The majority (91%) of participants failed to meet any or only met one nutrient recommendation. Based on these results, commuter students appear to have inadequate diets and are most influenced by cost, convenience, and health when making food choices. Therefore, nutrition interventions that focus on providing commuter students with education about how to eat healthy on a limited budget and minimal time for food preparation are needed.

Comments

Advisors: Josephine Umoren.||Committee members: Shiela Barrett; Eunha Myung.

Extent

125 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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