Well being and intercultural sensitivity as predictors of food neophobia; Exploring different psychological factors contributing to the reluctance in trying novel foods

The study investigates the relationship between psychological factors like Well-being and Intercultural Sensitivity with Food Neophobia. The sample studied was a population of 310 Indian young adults, with ages ranging between 18 to 30. The results showed that Intercultural Sensitivity has a significant, moderate and negative relationship with Food neophobia, whereas, Well-being shows a weak, non-significant, negative relationship. Findings imply that being open and accepting towards other cultures, not of their own, helps in reducing Food neophobia. Compared to general well-being, being more exposed to other cultures, through in person exposure or virtual exposure can foster better culinary exploration, which allows for lesser neophobia towards new foods. The study also presents possibilities of future research, by using specific psychological variables (which could also b the pillars of well-being according to PERMA), instead of a general component like Well-being, as used in this study.