Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Habits and Food Purchasing Behaviors of University Students

Abstract

COVID-19 disease, which has spread rapidly all over the world since the first case was detected in December 2019, has become the primary focus in every country. Radical measures have been taken by governments to prevent the spread of the disease. Precautions and social rules have required drastic changes to daily life activities everywhere. University students who have had to interrupt their educations are one of the affected groups by this disease sociologically, psychologically and physiologically. The aim of this study was planned and conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on university students' eating habits and food purchasing behaviors. The study was completed in April 2020 with 866 university students studying and training at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Gumushane, Turkey. Research data was obtained by online questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared with information obtained from a literature review and the opinions of experts. It included questions about eating habits and food purchasing behaviors. The basic result of the study was that COVID-19 disease has caused significant changes in the eating habits and food purchasing behaviors of university students. Primarily, they now paid greater attention to hygiene when food purchasing, and had increased their consumption compared to previously, since they were now home 24 hours a day, seven days a week.