A Structural Equation Model of Home Economics Education, Nutritional Literacy, and Dietary Behaviour Among Nigerian University Women

This study develops and tests a structural equation model examining the causal pathways through which Home Economics Education influences nutritional literacy and dietary behaviour among women enrolled in Nigerian universities. Despite substantial investment in higher education, nutritional literacy deficits persist among Nigerian female undergraduates, contributing to suboptimal dietary practices during a critical period of physiological and reproductive development. The study employs a multi-site cross-sectional design, targeting 600 female undergraduates in six universities across the South West, South East, and North Central geopolitical zones. Data were collected using a validated Nutritional Literacy Scale, the Diet Quality Index adapted for Nigeria, and a comprehensive Home Economics exposure inventory. Analytical methods include confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling with latent variable estimation, and multi-group invariance testing. The study advances the Integrated Behavioural Model by incorporating educational exposure as an antecedent structural variable influencing the knowledge-attitude-behaviour pathway. Findings are expected to establish mediated causal chains linking Home Economics instruction depth to nutritional literacy gains and subsequent dietary behaviour improvements, with zone-level moderating effects. Original contributions include the validated structural model, the adapted dietary quality instrument, and zone-specific pathway coefficients. Recommendations address the National Universities Commission, Women in STEM and allied fields, and curriculum developers. Keywords: structural equation modelling, Home Economics Education, nutritional literacy, dietary behaviour, Nigerian universities.