Berta Schnettler1, Ligia Orellana2, Germán Lobos3, Horacio Miranda1, José Sepúlveda2, Soledad Etchebarne4, Marcos Mora5, Cristian Adasme-Berríos6, Klaus G Grunert7. 1. Departamento de Producción Agropecuaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad de La Frontera (Temuco), Chile.. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl. 2. Centro de Psicología Económica y del Consumo, Universidad de La Frontera (Temuco), Chile.. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl. 3. Escuela de Ingeniería Comercial, Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad de Talca (Talca), Chile.. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl. 4. Departamento de Administración, Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad de Chile (Santiago), Chile.. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl. 5. Departamento de Economía Agraria, Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad de Chile (Santiago), Chile.. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl. 6. Departamento de Economía y Administración, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Económicas, Universidad Católica del Maule (Talca), Chile.. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl. 7. MAPP Centre for Research on Customer Relations in the Food Sector, Aarhus University (Aarhus), Denmark.. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl.
Abstract
AIM: To characterize types of university students based on satisfaction with life domains that affect eating habits, satisfaction with food-related life and subjective happiness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied to a nonrandom sample of 305 students of both genders in five universities in Chile. The questionnaire included the abbreviated Multidimensional Student's Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life Scale (SWFL) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). Eating habits, frequency of food consumption in and outside the place of residence, approximate height and weight and sociodemographic variables were measured. RESULTS: Using factor analysis, the five-domain structure of the MSLSS was confirmed with 26 of the 30 items of the abbreviated version: Family, Friends, Self, Environment and University. Using cluster analysis four types of students were distinguished that differ significantly in the MSLSS global and domain scores, SWFL and SHS scores, gender, ownership of a food allowance card funded by the Chilean government, importance attributed to food for well-being and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of life satisfaction and happiness are associated with greater satisfaction with food-related life. Other major life domains that affect students' subjective well-being are Family, Friends, University and Self. Greater satisfaction in some domains may counterbalance the lower satisfaction in others. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.
AIM: To characterize types of university students based on satisfaction with life domains that affect eating habits, satisfaction with food-related life and subjective happiness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied to a nonrandom sample of 305 students of both genders in five universities in Chile. The questionnaire included the abbreviated Multidimensional Student's Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life Scale (SWFL) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). Eating habits, frequency of food consumption in and outside the place of residence, approximate height and weight and sociodemographic variables were measured. RESULTS: Using factor analysis, the five-domain structure of the MSLSS was confirmed with 26 of the 30 items of the abbreviated version: Family, Friends, Self, Environment and University. Using cluster analysis four types of students were distinguished that differ significantly in the MSLSS global and domain scores, SWFL and SHS scores, gender, ownership of a food allowance card funded by the Chilean government, importance attributed to food for well-being and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of life satisfaction and happiness are associated with greater satisfaction with food-related life. Other major life domains that affect students' subjective well-being are Family, Friends, University and Self. Greater satisfaction in some domains may counterbalance the lower satisfaction in others. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.