A Study Compared Psychological Well-being and Self-efficacy between Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian Young Adults

Abstract

The current study is a comparative design employing a quantitative approach to explore the relationship between dietary choices and psychological well-being and self-efficacy among young adults aged 18–25. The main aim is to investigate whether vegetarians versus non-vegetarians significantly impact psychological well-being and self-efficacy. Convenience sampling, a non-probability sampling method, was utilized to recruit 150 participants, evenly divided into two subgroups: 75 vegetarians and 75 non-vegetarians. The research methodology involved administering two standardized tools: Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Data collection and analysis were performed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The study found that non-vegetarians scored higher than vegetarians on psychological well-being measures, including positive relations, autonomy, self-acceptance, and slightly higher levels of self-efficacy. These findings suggest that dietary choices may influence psychological health and resilience in young adults. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and to generalize these results to broader populations, offering insights for interventions to enhance mental health.