Investigation of the relationship between nutritional selfefficiency and nutrition behavior in middle school students

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between secondary school students' nutritional self-efficacy and nutritional behavior in terms of different variables. The study was carried out with the participation of 219 secondary school 5th and 8th grade students studying in Mersin. Family Form, Health Perception Form, Child Nutrition Self-Efficacy Scale and Nutrition Behavior Scale were used as data collection tools in the study. The average nutrition self-efficacy score of the participating students was calculated as 33.97±5.83. Nutrition self-efficacy score did not differ significantly by gender, but a significant difference was found by age and grade level. The nutritional behavior score of the participating students was calculated as 20.84±2.68. Nutrition behavior score did not differ according to gender, age and grade level. A moderate correlation (r=0.43) was determined between nutritional self-efficacy and nutritional behavior. Findings showed that students' beliefs about health status did not affect nutritional behavior. There is a positive difference between nutritional self-efficacy and nutritional behavior. It was concluded that the level of transformation of nutritional self-efficacy into positive nutritional behavior is low. In order for nutritional behavior to develop in students, nutritional self-efficacy must also change positively. More importance should be given to nutrition education in schools, and the content of achievements in science books should be increased. Nutrition education courses should be given to teachers. Activities on nutrition should be included in Ministry of Education books, and importance should be given to nutrition. Nutrition education in schools should be given importance.