The Mediating Effect of Eating Habits on the Relationship between Food Literacy and Organic Food Consumption among College Students

Abstract

Organic food consumption involved opting for foods that prevented the utilization of synthetic pesticides, as well as fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones. This study focused on the eating habits and food literacy regarding organic food consumption among students. The respondents of this study were 353 college students who commonly consumed organic foods and utilized mediation analysis. This study used a stratified random sampling technique. The statistical tools used in this study were Mean, Pearson R, and Path Analysis. A modified adapted survey questionnaire collected information from the respondents through content validity. The study's findings demonstrated that eating habits, food literacy, and organic food consumption had a descriptive level of high. Furthermore, the three variables showed a substantial interconnected pattern in the data analysis. Additionally, it indicated a noteworthy partial mediation of eating habits on the connection between food literacy and organic food consumption among college students. The findings implied that eating habits had a favorable impact on food literacy and that better knowledge of organic food consumption resulted in more sustainable and ethical food choices, creating a supportive environment for general well-being.