Factors Related to Food Consumption Behaviors of Students at the Demonstration School, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok

Abstract

This research aimed (1) to study personal factors, predisposing factors, enabling factors, reinforcing factors and food consumption behaviors of the students of the Demonstration School, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok and (2) to study the relationships between personal factors, predisposing factors, enabling factors, reinforcing factors and food consumption behaviors of the students of the Demonstration School, Ramkhamhaeng University. 

This study was a cross-sectional survey research using the sample group of 160 students in Mathayom Suksa 2 from the Demonstration School, Ramkhamhaeng University. The data were collected during 11-18 February, 2019. The instrument used in this research was a questionnaire which its contents were divided into 5 parts: personal information, predisposing factors (knowledge, and attitude towards food consumptions), enabling factors (access to, and food and beverage distribution facilities), reinforcing factors (received information and social support), and food consumption behaviors. The whole questionnaire had the reliability of 0.701. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, percent, mean, and standard deviation. Also, correlations were analyzed by using Chi-square test and Pearson's product moment correlation method. 

The research found that most sample was male (55.60 percent). About 60 percent of their parents' occupations were trade and business, with the average monthly income between 20,000- 80,000 Baht per month. Students received money from parents per day were between 80-120 Baht. They had knowledges and attitudes concerning healthy food consumption at a low level. Meanwhile, the enabling, reinforcing factors and food consumption behaviors of the students were at a high level. There was no relationship between parents' occupations and food consumption behaviors of the students (p > .05). Gender associated with food consumption behaviors. Average family income per month and students' money received per day were statistically correlated to food consumption behaviors (r = 0.214, r = 0.288, respectively), with significance level at p < .01. Knowledge and attitude were correlated to food consumption behaviors (r = 0.379, r = -0.671, respectively), with significance level at p < .01. There were relationships between enabling factors, reinforcing factors and food consumption behaviors (r = -0.379, r = 0.933, respectively) with statistical significance at p < .01. 

The results of this research had suggestion that the school, cooperated with student's fathers and mothers or parents, should develop activities in school nutritional promotion, especially emphasizing in nutritional contents, awareness of food consumption, and recommendation of buying good healthy foods. There were, also, training and skill activities with demonstration to the students in selecting and buying good healthy foods and beverages for their health.