Determination of the factors affecting the organic food purchase request of university students

In this research, the effect of health consciousness, environmental awareness, food safety and organic food attitudes of university students on the request to purchase organic food were investigated. Material of the study was obtained by a face to face questionnaire from 431 students at Afyon Kocatepe University. Likert-type scaling was performed for participant expressions in each attitude. The t-test (for variables containing two groups) and variance analysis (for variables containing more than two groups) were applied to the mean scores determined for attitude scales in comparison with the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the participants. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect of health consciousness, environmental awareness, food safety and organic food attitudes on the request to purchase organic food. It was determined that approximately 59% of the participants were educated in the social sciences, approximately 84% of the participants were in the 20-23 age range and the gender ratio was equal. In addition, approximately 78% of the participants have monthly income of 1000 TL and less, approximately 91% of the participants have monthly income from their family and scholarship / credit sources, 61% of them have accommodation in dormitories and hostels and 94% of the participants have 500 TL and less food expenditure per month. The difference between the request to purchase organic food and the monthly income with the source of income was significant (p<0,05); the difference between gender, age, education area, shelter and monthly food expenditure was insignificant (p>0,05). It was determined that health consciousness, environmental awareness and food safety on the request to purchase organic food were ineffective (p>0,05) and organic food attitude was effective (p<0,05). As a result; it was found that the participants' organic food attitudes were determinative in purchasing preferences, and that young individuals were willing to purchase organic food even if their income level was low.