in the repository
URN to cite this document: urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9118-1
Title data
Steinfeldt, Anna ; Bartelmeß, Tina:
A qualitative exploration of how communicative and direct experiences shape students' dietary climate awareness.
In: Discover Sustainability.
Vol. 6
(2025)
.
- 810.
ISSN 2662-9984
DOI der Verlagsversion: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01776-8
![[thumbnail of s43621-025-01776-8.pdf]](https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png) |
|
||||||||
|
Download (1MB)
|
Project information
| Project title: |
Project's official title Project's id Open Access Publizieren No information |
|---|
Abstract
This study explores the development of dietary climate awareness and its influence on dietary changes among university students. Given the substantial role of food systems in greenhouse gas emissions, fostering climate-conscious eating is critical. The study investigates communicative and experiential factors that shape students' awareness and transitions to vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian diets. Episodic interviews were conducted with 18 students from the University of Bayreuth who made dietary changes within the past five years. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results show that dietary transitions are highly individualized and typically unfold over time, following a non-linear process consistent with the Transtheoretical Model. Climate awareness and behaviour change were shaped by institutional, media, and interpersonal communication, as well as direct experiences such as studying abroad or witnessing environmental degradation. Key influences included family norms, peer networks, media content (e.g., documentaries), and transitional life phases. Specific turning points—such as pivotal conversations or impactful media—often initiated dietary shifts. Participants who reached a stable dietary pattern frequently became advocates within their social environments, contributing to broader norm changes. The study highlights the communicative and experiential dynamics underlying climate-conscious eating among students and offers insights for strategies to promote sustainable dietary behaviour in this demographic.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a journal |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Climate-conscious diet; Communicative experiences; Direct experiences; Dietary behaviour; Dietary climate awareness; University students |
| DDC Subjects: | 300 Social sciences > 300 Social sciences, sociology and anthropology |
| Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health Faculties > Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health > Juniorprofessur Ernährungssoziologie > Juniorprofessur Ernährungssoziologie - Juniorprof. Dr. Tina Bartelmeß Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health > Juniorprofessur Ernährungssoziologie |
| Language: | English |
| Originates at UBT: | Yes |
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9118-1 |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Apr 2026 10:35 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Apr 2026 10:37 |
| URI: | https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/9118 |
Download Statistics