A Study on the Perception and Consumption Pattern of Convenience Foods by Korean College Students

한국 대학생의 편의식품에 대한 인지도, 이용 정도 분석 및 식행동에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this stud was to investigate the degree of recognition as well as the consumption pattern of convenience food products, and related factors among 700 mixed Korean college students using written questionnaire. Students of Seoul region showed the significantly lowest rate of recognition at 36.7%. Results also showed that lifestyles have a significant effect on the degree of recognition of convenience foods. The consumption patterns of convenience foods goes as follows: used frequently-18.2%, once in awhile-73.9%, doesn't use-7.9%. The higher the recognition rate, the higher the consumption rate for convenience foods. When compared in terms of residence, students living at home used more refrigerated foods compared to students living outside of the home. Among the total students living outside of the home, students living on their own scored highest of convenience food consumption. In the case of female students living outside the home, respondents living alone and in dormitories scored the highest. Female students living in dormitories were mainly using refrigerated and canned foods, while those living alone consumed more kimbap and 'sa-bal-myun' in convenience stores. Korean college students mainly consumed frozen food, retort food, and kimbap in convenience stores. The college student that believes that 'You eat to satisfy hunger' significantly used more convenience food while those that marked 'maintain health' consumed the lowest showing a great difference between groups. Results showed that the lower the food habit score, the higher the usage score of convenience foods. The food habit score had a negative correlation with the usage of frozen foods, instant food, and convenience store food. When compared individually, packaged 'ramen' and 'sa-bal-myun' scored the highest points of usage. Frozen fried rice and pre-packaged rice scored the lowest points indicating Korean college students do not consider rice a convenience food. Convenience food consumed in convenience stores ranked the highest among places of consumption, compared to places like home or outdoors; showing that convenience foods were used by people with limited time constraints.