Relationship between desirable eating habits and eating experiences and skills during school age, as well as the current living conditions of college students were investigated. Moreover, the relationship between desirable eating habits and Subjective Diet-related Quality of Life (SDQOL) was examined. Participants responded to a self-administered questionnaire (N = 470, 248 men and 222 women) and after confirming the construction of questionnaire items, the data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Moreover, a model including eating experiences and skills during school age, bedtime, and residence status as explanatory variables and desirable eating habits as intervening variables, as well as SDQOL as outcome variables were developed. Then, covariance structure analysis was conducted.
The results indicated that factors related to forming desirable eating habits in both men and women were acquiring eating skills, early bedtime, and living together with the family. Furthermore, the formation of desirable eating habits, good eating experiences during school age, dietary education at school, as well as living together with the family improved college students’ SDQOL. Based on the above results, it is considered important to have good eating experiences and to acquire eating skills at home during school age. Furthermore, providing dietary education including education on regulating the rhythm of daily life is considered important especially for students living away from home.