Skip to main content

Table 2 Descriptive characteristics of study participants (n = 195)

From: A social marketing perspective of young adults' concepts of eating for health: is it a question of morality?

Characteristic

N (%) or Median (IQR)

Age (years)

 18–21 years old

109 (56%)

 22–24 years old

86 (44%)

Gender identitya

 Female

119 (61%)

 Male

75 (39%)

 Non-binary/genderfluid/genderqueer

1 (1%)

Body Mass Index (BMI) categoriesb

N = 194

 Underweight (BMI < 18.5)

16 (8%)

 Healthy weight (BMI 18.5–24.9)

106 (55%)

 Overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9)

42 (22%)

 Obese (BMI ≥30.0)

30 (16%)

Living location

 Metro

156 (80%)

 Regional/rural

39 (20%)

Language other than English spoken at home/with parents

 Yes

52 (27%)

 No

143 (73%)

Currently studying

 Yes

137 (70%)

 No

58 (30%)

Level of current studyc

 High school, year 12

8 (6%)

 TAFE, college or diploma

18 (13%)

 University (undergraduate course)

97 (71%)

 University (postgraduate course)

14 (10%)

Highest level of completed educationd

 High school, year 10 or lower

2 (3%)

 High school, year 11

2 (3%)

 High school, year 12

13 (22%)

 TAFE, college or diploma

23 (40%)

 University (undergraduate degree)

16 (28%)

 University (postgraduate degree)

2 (3%)

Living arrangementse

 Alone

24 (10%)

 With their child (ren)

18 (8%)

 With partner

37 (16%)

 With other family

20 (9%)

 With friend(s)/housemate(s)

34 (15%)

 Living with parents

97 (42%)

 I don’t wish to say

0 (0%)

Dispensable weekly income

 Less than AU$40

76 (39%)

 AU$40–$79

59 (30%)

 AU$80–$119

30 (15%)

 AU$120–$199

17 (9%)

 AU$200–$299

9 (5%)

 AU$300 or over

3 (2%)

 I don’t wish to say

1 (1%)

Social media use frequency

 More than twice a day

173 (89%)

 Twice a day

22 (11%)

Using social media to learn or talk about your health

 Yes

128 (66%)

 No

67 (34%)

Interest in health

 On a scale of 1–7, where 1 means “Strongly disagree” and 7 means “Strongly agree”, please indicate how strongly you agree with the following statement - I take an active interest in my health

6 (5, 6)

  1. a Based on the following question: “Please confirm your gender. Response options: Male; Female; Transmale/transman; Transfemale/transwoman; Non-binary/genderfluid/genderqueer; My gender is not listed (please specify)” [35]
  2. b BMI categories based on self-reported weight and height; one participant did not answer
  3. c Only participants currently studying answered this question
  4. d Only participants who were no longer studying answered this question
  5. e Participants could select more than one answer