Food consumption behavior of adolescents in Songkhla Province: Synthesis of literacy and factors influencing food consumption behavior

Abstract

This research aims to 1) synthesize knowledge about adolescent food consumption behavior, 2) compare food consumption behavior of adolescents in Songkhla Province based on enabling factors, and 3) investigate factors influencing food consumption behavior of adolescents in Songkhla Province. The research was divided into two phases. Phase 1 was synthesis of research about adolescent food consumption behavior published during 2000 - 2010. The results of Phase 1 were used to test the hypothesis in Phase 2 was investigation of factors influencing adolescent food consumption behavior. Data were gathered using a data record form, a questionnaire, and a test. The study was conducted with 437 high school students under the Secondary Educational Service Area Office 16 selected using multi-stage random sampling. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression analysis.

The results were as follows. 1) There were three factors influencing adolescent food consumption behavior: 1.1) predisposing factors; i.e. food consumption knowledge, attitude towards food consumption, and food consumption value, 1.2) enabling factors; i.e. parent education and family income, and 1.3) reinforcing factors; i.e. the influence of advertisement. 2) The adolescents with different levels of parent education and family income had no significant difference on food consumption behavior. 3) Food consumptionvalue and the influence of advertisement could predict the food consumption behavior of the adolescents in Songkhla province at 11.30 percent