Personality Determinants of Diet Quality among Polish and Spanish Physical Education Students

Maria Gacek, Grażyna Kosiba and Agnieszka Wojtowicz
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Maria Gacek: Department of Sports Medicine and Human Nutrition, University of Physical Education in Kraków, 31-571 Kraków, Poland
Grażyna Kosiba: Department of Theory and Methodology of Physical Education, University of Physical Education in Kraków, 31-571 Kraków, Poland
Agnieszka Wojtowicz: Department of Psychology, University of Physical Education in Kraków, 31-571 Kraków, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and diet quality indexes among Polish and Spanish physical education students. The study was conducted among students from Poland ( n = 219) and Spain ( n = 280), using the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire and the NEO-FFI (NEO Five-Factor Inventory) questionnaire. Two indexes were used: the Pro-healthy Diet Index (pHDI-10) and the Non-healthy Diet Index (nHDI-14). For statistical analysis, the t -test with independent estimation of variance as well as both Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation analysis and moderation analysis with simple slopes were used. Polish and Spanish physical education students demonstrated low levels of healthy (pHDI-10) and unhealthy (nHDI-14) diet indexes, with Polish students showing significantly higher intensities of both indicators ( p < 0.001). As extraversion intensified, the levels of pHDI-10 and nHDI-14 increased ( p < 0.05). The nHDI-14 index for all students decreased along with increasing openness to experiences ( p < 0.01) and agreeableness ( p < 0.05), and the pHDI-10 index increased with the rise in conscientiousness ( p < 0.01). Analyses have indicated that the home country is an important moderator of personality relationships with the Non-healthy Diet Index (nHDI-14), which, along with the increase in conscientiousness, increased in students from Spain, while it decreased among students from Poland ( p < 0.001). Polish and Spanish physical education students showed a low level of healthy (pHDI-10) and unhealthy (nHDI-14) diets depending on country of origin. Additionally, significant correlations were noted between the Big Five personality traits and pHDI-10 and nHDI-14 indexes, and a moderating impact was observed by the home country on the relationships of selected personality traits with the Non-healthy Diet Index (nHDI-14).

Keywords: diet quality indicators; food product groups; physical education students; Big Five personality traits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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