What does this research mean for the field?

Artificial sweetener consumption among Nigerian undergraduates is significantly driven by institutional environment and knowledge-based behavioral pathways, with knowledge directly influencing consumption practices more than attitude. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the academic and institutional determinants and structural pathways governing artificial sweetener consumption among university undergraduates.

September 10, 2026BMC NutritionOpen Access

Academic and institutional determinants of artificial sweetener use among undergraduates in Southeast Nigeria: a structural equation modeling study

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Authors

PUPatricia O. Ukegbu BOBeulah F. Ortutu AAAugusta C. Amaeze

Discussion

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Overview

Cross-sectional study reveals that institutional environment and knowledge directly drive artificial sweetener use in undergraduates, indicating that campus context outweighs personal attitudes.

Key Points

To examine the academic and institutional determinants and structural pathways governing artificial sweetener consumption among university undergraduates.
Conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,473 undergraduate students across two public universities (one federal and one state) in Southeast Nigeria.
Assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) using structured and food frequency questionnaires.
Analyzed predictors and behavioral pathways using multivariable logistic regression, structural equation modeling, and mediation analysis with 5,000 bias-corrected bootstrap resamples.
Federal university students exhibited significantly higher odds of good knowledge (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.39–2.49, p < 0.001) and higher consumption practice scores (AOR = 5.15, 95% CI: 3.75–7.07, p < 0.001) compared to state university students.
Structural equation modeling showed that knowledge directly predicted both attitude (β = 0.783, p < 0.001) and consumption practice (β = 0.685, p < 0.001), whereas the direct path from attitude to practice was not statistically significant.
Attitude partially mediated the relationship between knowledge and practice (indirect effect β = 0.097, 95% CI: 0.050–0.167).

Cite This Study

Ukegbu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27ba958559d80afc74fe5 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-026-01465-3

View Full Paper

Ask AI

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September 10, 2026BMC NutritionOpen Access

Academic and institutional determinants of artificial sweetener use among undergraduates in Southeast Nigeria: a structural equation modeling study

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

PUPatricia O. Ukegbu BOBeulah F. Ortutu AAAugusta C. Amaeze

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cross-sectional study reveals that institutional environment and knowledge directly drive artificial sweetener use in undergraduates, indicating that campus context outweighs personal attitudes.

Key Points

To examine the academic and institutional determinants and structural pathways governing artificial sweetener consumption among university undergraduates.
Conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,473 undergraduate students across two public universities (one federal and one state) in Southeast Nigeria.
Assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) using structured and food frequency questionnaires.
Analyzed predictors and behavioral pathways using multivariable logistic regression, structural equation modeling, and mediation analysis with 5,000 bias-corrected bootstrap resamples.
Federal university students exhibited significantly higher odds of good knowledge (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.39–2.49, p < 0.001) and higher consumption practice scores (AOR = 5.15, 95% CI: 3.75–7.07, p < 0.001) compared to state university students.
Structural equation modeling showed that knowledge directly predicted both attitude (β = 0.783, p < 0.001) and consumption practice (β = 0.685, p < 0.001), whereas the direct path from attitude to practice was not statistically significant.
Attitude partially mediated the relationship between knowledge and practice (indirect effect β = 0.097, 95% CI: 0.050–0.167).

Cite This Study

Ukegbu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27ba958559d80afc74fe5 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-026-01465-3

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark