Examination of the effect of social media use on nutrition literacy in women

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the effect of social media usage levels on the nutrition literacy of women aged 31.93±11.45 years. 402 individuals were included in the study. Study data were recorded through face-to-face interview method by the researcher, using a personal information form containing the sociodemographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of individuals, Evaluation Instrument Of Nutrition Literacy On Adults (EINLA) and Social Media Using Scale (SMUIS). 60.95% of the participants are bachelor's degree graduates and the average Body Mass Index (BMI) of the participants was determined as 24.11±4.91 kg/m2. According to BMI evaluations, while there were no individuals in obesity degree III among the participants, 54.98% were determined to be normal weight, and 21.89% were determined to be pre-obesity. 92.04% of the participants were found to have sufficient nutrition literacy. There is no significant difference between the participant's social media usage levels according to their BMI groups (p>0.005). It was found that the total scores of the participants who were underweight according to their BMI assessment were lower than those with normal (p=0.034) and participants who had BMI in obesity degree I (p=0.012). The proportion of participants with adequate literacy among bachelor's degree graduates was found to be significantly higher than primary school (p=0.001) and high school (p<0.001). As the age of the participants increases, social media usage levels decrease (r=-0.1253, p=0.012). As the level of social media usage increases, the nutrition literacy levels of the participants also increase. It was determined that there was a weak and significant positive correlation between EINLA and SMUIS (r=0.1734, p<0.001). As a result of this study; It has been determined that the level of education is an important factor in nutrition literacy, and it has been determined that social media usage levels decrease as age increases. In addition, social media positively affects nutrition literacy, it is thought that sharing scientific evidence-based information about nutrition, especially among young individuals, through social media may be important for public health.