Food Waste Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions among University Students

Authors

  • Manar A. Alattar Portland State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5232-8038
  • James DeLaney Portland State University
  • Jennifer L. Morse Portland State University
  • Max Nielsen-Pincus Portland State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.004

Keywords:

Food Waste, Sustainability, Behavior Change, Environmental Education, Behavioral Factors, Exploratory Factor Analysis

Abstract

After policy change, educational programming has been cited as one of the most powerful tools for improving food systems and decreasing food waste. University students represent a population in which emerging habits, skills, and identity may be targeted easily and changed through on-campus educational programming. To understand how to best implement programming on impacts of food, food waste, and related issues, the factors that underlie students’ behaviors related to food waste must be understood. We analyzed factors that influence food waste–related behaviors within a university student population to understand the potential for improving targeted, school-based food waste diversion programming. Four hundred and ninety-five students were surveyed to: (1) identify self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to food waste; (2) explore underlying factors driving food waste–related behaviors through exploratory factor analysis (EFA); and (3) understand the interactions between factors within a regression framework. Participants reported that they most often left food on their plate because it did not taste good or they had overestimated portion size. A majority of participants already performed many food waste reduction behaviors, and were both interested in taking action and aware that their efforts could make a difference. Food management skills, compost attitudes, sustainability attitudes, and reported household food waste were correlated, in various ways, with both intent to reduce and reported food waste reduction behaviors. Opportunities for improving university-related food waste programming through this data are explored.

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Author Biographies

Manar A. Alattar, Portland State University

Department of Environmental Science & Management.

Alattar’s present addresses are Department of Biology, Portland Community College; and Environmental Studies Department, University of Portland

James DeLaney, Portland State University

Department of Psychology

Jennifer L. Morse, Portland State University

Department of Environmental Science & Management

Max Nielsen-Pincus, Portland State University

Department of Environmental Science & Management

Published

2020-03-18

How to Cite

Alattar, M., DeLaney, J., Morse, J., & Nielsen-Pincus, M. (2020). Food Waste Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions among University Students. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9(3), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.004

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