PROMOTING FOOD LITERACY AND FOOD MEDIA LITERACY AMONG ADOLESCENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Abstract

The contemporary food system exposes adolescents to contradictory dynamics characterised by overexposure to ultra-processed foods and limited access to high-quality nutritional resources. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a transformative educational intervention aimed at promoting food literacy (FL), food media literacy (FML) and self-efficacy in adolescents. A quasi-experimental design with a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) was adopted, involving 184 students (aged 14–17) divided into an experimental group (n=92) and a control group (n=92). The 12-week intervention integrated school gardens, peer education, critical media analysis workshops and gamified activities. Quantitative data were collected using validated instruments (SFLQ, HLSAC, MLS, GSES) and analysed using repeated measures ANOVA and t-tests. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic approach. The results show significant improvements in the experimental group across all variables (p < .001), with a medium-to-high effect size. The qualitative analysis confirms the development of critical awareness, empowerment and social responsibility. The study supports the adoption of integrated educational models to promote health, equity and active citizenship.