Comparing the Nutrient Intake, Quality of Diet, Eating Habit Scores and Dietary Behaviors of University Students in Iksan, according to Their Type of Residence

Park, Sung Hye

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the dietary patterns and behaviors of university students according to their type of residence. The subjects consisted of two thousand two hundred fifty students from Wonkwang University. They were divided into three groups : those who live in their family homes (393 men, 392 women); those who live in university dormitories (371 men, 401 women); and those who live in houses with cooking facilities (345 men, 348 women). This cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The nutrient intake data collected from a three-day recall were analyzed using the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program and the diet quality was estimated using the Nutrient Adequacy Ratio, Mean Adequacy Ratio and Index of Nutritional Quality. The results showed that the mean daily intakes of calcium were lower than the Korean Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) in all groups. There was a significant difference in the nutrient intake, dietary quality and dietary behaviors of the three groups. The nutrients intake and dietary quality of the men were poorer than those of the women in all three groups. The subjects living in dormitories and houses with cooking facilites seemed to have lower levels of nutrient intake and dietary quality. However, the concern about nutrition and interest in health information was higher among those living in dormitories and houses with cooking facilities than among those living in their family homes. Male students living in houses with cooking facilities had more dietary problems than students living in their family homes or in dormitories possibly because they might have had a lower ability in meal management. These results suggest that the type of residence affects the nutrient intake levels, and dietary quality of university students in Iksan. Nutritional education is essential if university students are to practice optimal nutritional habits, including the eating of well-balanced diets and selecting of foods of high quality. Therefore, nutritional education for university students is needed so as to improve their health and a nutritional education program should be developed to meet the various needs of these students.