title: Food neophobia, nanotechnology and satisfaction with life.
abstract: This study investigates the relationship between food neophobia, satisfaction with life and food-related life, and acceptance of the use of nanotechnology in food production. Questionnaire data was collected from a sample of 400 supermarket shoppers in southern Chile. The questionnaire measured knowledge of nanotechnology and willingness to purchase food products involving nanotechnology, and included the SWLS (Satisfaction with Life Scale), SWFL (Satisfaction with Food-related Life) and FNS (Food Neophobia Scale) scales. Using cluster analysis, four consumer types were distinguished with significant differences in their scores on the SWLS, SWFL and FNS. The types differed in their knowledge of nanotechnology, willingness to purchase foods involving nanotechnology, age, socioeconomic level and lifestyle. The least food-neophobic type had the highest levels of satisfaction with life and with food-related life and also had the highest acceptance of packaging and foods produced with nanotechnology. The results suggest that the degree of food neophobia is associated with satisfaction with life and with food-related life, as well as with the acceptance of products with nanotechnological applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Farming and Livestock Production, Faculty of Farming, Livestock and Forestry Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile. berta.schnettler@ufrontera.cl
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schnettler
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crisóstomo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lobos
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Klaus G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Grunert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Nanotechnology; Neophobia; Subjective well-being