The association between healthy eating attitudes and sustainable dietary behaviors among university students: a cross-sectional study.

Authors

Hatice Tuğçe Berberoğlu, Fatma Çiftci, Ecenur Özkul Erdoğan, Yunus Akdoğan

Published in

BMC public health. Jul 03, 2026. Epub Jul 03, 2026.

Abstract

Unsustainable dietary patterns contribute substantially to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the growing global burden of non-communicable diseases. University years represent a critical transitional period during which lifelong eating behaviors are shaped. Understanding whether positive attitudes toward healthy eating are associated with sustainable dietary behaviors may inform integrated public health strategies targeting both health and environmental outcomes. This study examined the relationship between healthy eating attitudes and sustainable nutrition behaviors among Turkish university students and explored associated demographic factors.
A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 and October 2024 among 610 university students aged 18-26 years. Data were collected using structured self-report questionnaires. Healthy eating attitudes were assessed using the Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN), and sustainable dietary behaviors were measured using the Behaviors Scale Towards Sustainable Nutrition (BSSN). Non-parametric tests, Spearman correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling (SEM) were performed.
Participants demonstrated generally high levels of healthy eating attitudes. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between overall healthy eating attitudes and sustainable dietary behaviors (r = 0.182, p < 0.001). SEM indicated that healthy eating attitudes were positively associated with sustainable nutrition behaviors (β = 0.542, p < 0.001). Non-smokers and female students exhibited significantly higher sustainable nutrition behavior scores compared to smokers and male students (p < 0.05).
Healthy eating attitudes were positively associated with sustainable dietary behaviors among university students. Although the strength of the association was modest, the findings suggest that health-oriented attitudes may support environmentally responsible dietary practices. Public health interventions that integrate sustainability principles into university-based nutrition education and campus food policies may represent a promising strategy to advance both human and environmental health. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal pathways.

PMID:
42399876
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 04 Jul 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.