The Consumption Behavior and Perceptions of Environment-friendly Agricultural Products by University Students in Korea

전북 지역 대학생의 친환경 농산물 구매 실태 및 인식에 대한 연구

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the consumption behavior and perceptions of environment-friendly agricultural products(EAPs) by university students in the Chonbuk area, Korea. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 309 university students(male 33.0%, female 67.0%). Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses was completed using SPSS v. 12.0. The percentage of subjects who purchased EAPs was 70.9%. Of those, 87.2% had EAPs purchased by their mothers. The most purchased EAPs were vegetables, the primary reason for which was the perception of 'good for health'(73.1%). The main information source about EAPs was 'familes/freinds'. The average scores of 'attitude toward EAPs', 'knowledge toward EAPs', 'concern toward EAPs' were $3.76{\pm}0.57$, $2.91{\pm}0.61$ and $3.29{\pm}0.43$, respectively. With regards to 'attitude toward EAPs', the scores were significantly affected by 'self-reported health status'(p<0.05). With regard to 'knowledge toward EAPs' and 'concern toward EAPs', the scores were significantly affected by 'supplements for health' (p<0.05; p<0.001). For university students' right choices of EAPs, information and consumer education wthin the university curriculum on these products are necessary.