Determining food choice motivations in Turkish adults: sustainable and healthy eating behavior, ecological footprint awareness, and food insecurity perspective

Abstract

Background Revealing motivations in food choice and investigating the potential role of sustainable healthy eating behavior, ecological footprint awareness and food security in food choice are important points for a sustainable life. This study was conducted with 5285 adults aged 19-65 residing in Turkey to investigate their food choice motivations in terms of sustainable and healthy eating behavior, ecological footprint awareness, and the food insecurity perspective. Methods In this context, the Food Choice Questionnaire, the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale, the Awareness Scale for Reducing Ecological Footprint and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale were used. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationships between scales. The effects of sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, ecological footprint awareness, and household food insecurity on food choice motivations were examined via path analysis. Results A moderate positive (r = 0.47, p < 0.05) relationship was found between the participants' awareness levels of sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and reducing the ecological footprint. A weak negative (r=-0.22, p < 0.05) relationship was found between their awareness levels of ecological footprint reduction and household food insecurity, and a weak negative (r=-0.16, p < 0.05) relationship was found between sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and household food insecurity. The explanatory power of ecological footprint awareness, sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, and household food insecurity for food choices was 27.2%. It was observed that ecological footprint awareness (beta = 0.21, p < 0.05) and sustainable and healthy eating behaviors (beta = 0.38, p < 0.05) significantly and positively affected food choices. Conclusions The variables influencing food choices the most were sustainable and healthy eating behavior, ecological footprint awareness, and household food insecurity. Although there are various data in the literature on the multiple factors that determine food choices, a consensus on the effectiveness of these factors has yet to be reached. A comprehensive examination of this issue, including all the components, is needed.