Korean Journal of Community Nutrition

Research Article

[English]
Nutrition quotient for preschoolers and key impacting factors in Korea: a cross-sectional study on food literacy, social support, and the food environment of primary caregivers: Danbi Gwon, Ji-Yun Hwang, Jieun Oh; Korean J Community Nutr 2025;30(1):16-26. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2024.00311

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Objectives
This study evaluated the nutrition quotient for preschoolers (NQ-P) and analyzed the impact of key factors, such as caregivers’ food literacy, social support, and food environment, on the eating habits of preschool children in Korea. This study also sought to provide foundational data for developing tailored nutrition education programs by identifying the nutrition education needs of caregivers.
Methods
This study was conducted among caregivers of preschool children (aged 0–6 years) using an online self-administered survey conducted from August 22 to August 28, 2023. A total of 1,116 survey responses were analyzed. This study assessed children’s NQ-P score, caregivers’ food literacy, social support, food environment, and nutritional education needs. Data were analyzed using SPSS 29.0 (IBM Co.).
Results
The average NQ-P score for preschool children was 52, showing a tendency for the balance score to decrease and the moderation score to increase with age. Children from rural and low-income areas exhibited significantly lower NQ-P scores. Caregivers’ food literacy was higher in urban and higher-income groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that social support, food literacy, income, and food environment significantly affected children's NQ-P scores. The effectiveness of nutrition education varied based on the income level, with nutrition education on healthy eating being the most preferred topic for preschool children.
Conclusion
This study confirmed that caregivers’ food literacy and social support significantly affected preschool children’s nutritional status. This suggests a need for tailored nutritional education and dietary support policies, particularly for low-income and rural populations.

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Educational Materials

[English]
Development of a campus-based intervention program to strengthen food literacy among university students: A qualitative formative study: Eunji Ko, Eunjin Jang, Jiwon Sim, Minjeong Jeong, Sohyun Park; Korean J Community Nutr 2023;28(6):495-508. Published online December 31, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2023.28.6.495

Abstract PDF

Objectives
This study aimed to develop a campus-based intervention program to enhance food literacy (FL) among university students.
Methods
In the initial phase, we conducted a literature review of FL intervention studies and held in-depth interviews with university students to identify facilitators and barriers to improving and practicing FL. Expert counseling sessions were conducted with nutrition education, marketing, and service design professionals. The results of this phase led to the creation of an initial curriculum draft. In the second phase, a follow-up survey was conducted with young adults to assess the acceptability of the developed curriculum. After the follow-up survey, additional meetings were conducted with the aforementioned experts, and the curriculum was further refined based on their input.
Results
An 11-week FL intervention program was devised using constructs from the Social Cognitive Theory. The weekly curriculum consisted of 90-min theory-based and 90-min hands-on experience sessions. Three primary aspects of FL were covered: nutrition and food safety, cultural and relational dimensions, and socio-ecological aspects. Program highlights included cooking sessions for crafting traditional Korean desserts, lectures on animal welfare, insights into zero-waste practices, and communal eating experiences. Based on the study team’s previous research, the program also addressed mindful eating, helping participants understand the relationship with their eating habits, and providing strategies to manage negative emotions without resorting to food. Yoga sessions and local farm visits were incorporated into the curriculum to promote holistic well-being.
Conclusions
This study elucidated the comprehensive process of creating a campus-based curriculum to enhance FL among university students, a group particularly susceptible to problematic eating behaviors and low FL levels. The developed program can serve as a blueprint for adaptation to other campuses seeking to bolster students’ FL.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Effects of nutrition class with cooking lab on college students’ eating behaviors and well-being in the United States: a mixed-methods study
Borham Yoon, Kyungyul Jun
Nutrition Research and Practice.2025; 19(2): 305. CrossRef
Evaluating the effectiveness of a food literacy pilot program for university students: using a mixed-methods research approach
Eunji Ko, Eunjin Jang, Jiwon Sim, Minjeong Jeong, Sohyun Park
Nutrition Research and Practice.2024; 18(6): 885. CrossRef
A pilot investigation of a combined food literacy and exercise program for college students: a one-group pre-post intervention study
Minjeong Jeong, Jinhyun Kim, Dahye Han, Eunjin Jang, Kyoungho Choi, Sohyun Park
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition.2024; 29(6): 455. CrossRef

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3 Crossref

Review

[English]
Defining Food Literacy and Its Application to Nutrition Interventions: A scoping Review: Hye lim Yoo, Eun bin Jo, Kirang Kim, Sohyun Park; Korean J Community Nutr 2021;26(2):77-92. Published online April 30, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2021.26.2.77

Abstract PDF

Objectives
Food literacy (FL) can be an important concept that embodies the nutritional capabilities of individuals. The purpose of this study was to introduce the definition and core elements of FL from previous literature, to summarize measurement tools and intervention programs with FL, and to suggest the direction of future research and programs to integrate the concept of FL. Methods: The literature review was conducted through PubMed and Google Scholar databases by combining the search term ‘food literacy’ with ‘definition’, ‘measurement’, ‘questionnaire’, ‘intervention’, and ‘program’. Among the 94 papers primarily reviewed 31 manuscripts that suited the purpose of the study were used for analyses. Results: There is no consensus on the definition of FL that encompasses the multidimensional aspects of the concept. The definitions of FL were slightly different depending on the authors, and the interpretation of the core elements also varied. Based on the review, we propose a framework of FL that is in line with the current discussion among international researchers. This focuses on the core elements adapted from health literacy, namely functional, interactive, and critical FL. Specifically, we suggest some detailed elements for interactive and critical FL, which were often the subject of divergent views among researchers in previous literature. We found that most of the tools in the reviewed literature provided information on validity and reliability and were developed for a specific target population. Also, most of the tools were focused on functional FL. Similarly, most of the interventions targeted functional FL. Conclusions: This study reviewed the definition and core elements of FL, available measurement tools, and intervention programs using validated tools. We propose the development of tools with sound reliability and validity that encompass the three core elements of FL for different age groups. This will help to understand whether improving food literacy can translate into better nutritional intake and health status among individuals and communities.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Development of an evaluation tool for dietary guideline adherence in the elderly
Young-Suk Lim, Ji Soo Oh, Hye-Young Kim
Journal of Nutrition and Health.2024; 57(1): 1. CrossRef
The development, psychometric properties and refinement of a food literacy scale for specific and general application
Hennie Fisher, Marietjie Potgieter
International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science.2024; 35: 100862. CrossRef
Status of Food Literacy and Association with the Nutrition Quotient among Korean Adults
Geum-Bi Ryu, Young-Ran Heo
Human Ecology Research.2024; 62(3): 399. CrossRef
Evaluating the effectiveness of a food literacy pilot program for university students: using a mixed-methods research approach
Eunji Ko, Eunjin Jang, Jiwon Sim, Minjeong Jeong, Sohyun Park
Nutrition Research and Practice.2024; 18(6): 885. CrossRef
A pilot investigation of a combined food literacy and exercise program for college students: a one-group pre-post intervention study
Minjeong Jeong, Jinhyun Kim, Dahye Han, Eunjin Jang, Kyoungho Choi, Sohyun Park
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition.2024; 29(6): 455. CrossRef
Who has a high level of food literacy, and who does not?: a qualitative study of college students in South Korea
Hyelim Yoo, Eunbin Jo, Hyeongyeong Lee, Eunji Ko, Eunjin Jang, Jiwon Sim, Sohyun Park
Nutrition Research and Practice.2023; 17(6): 1155. CrossRef
Development of a campus-based intervention program to strengthen food literacy among university students: A qualitative formative study
Eunji Ko, Eunjin Jang, Jiwon Sim, Minjeong Jeong, Sohyun Park
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition.2023; 28(6): 495. CrossRef
Food literacy and its relationship with food intake: a comparison between adults and older adults using 2021 Seoul Food Survey data
Seulgi Lee, Sohyun Park, Kirang Kim
Epidemiology and Health.2023; 45: e2023062. CrossRef
Nutrition and Food Literacy in the MENA Region: A Review to Inform Nutrition Research and Policy Makers
Hala Mohsen, Yonna Sacre, Lara Hanna-Wakim, Maha Hoteit
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(16): 10190. CrossRef
Development of a Food Literacy Assessment Tool for Healthy, Joyful, and Sustainable Diet in South Korea
Hyelim Yoo, Eunbin Jo, Hyeongyeong Lee, Sohyun Park
Nutrients.2022; 14(7): 1507. CrossRef
Effects of University Students’ Perceived Food Literacy on Ecological Eating Behavior towards Sustainability
Yoojin Lee, Taehee Kim, Hyosun Jung
Sustainability.2022; 14(9): 5242. CrossRef
The Relationships between Food Literacy, Health Promotion Literacy and Healthy Eating Habits among Young Adults in South Korea
Yoojin Lee, Taehee Kim, Hyosun Jung
Foods.2022; 11(16): 2467. CrossRef

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