Readiness of adolescents to use genetically modified organisms according to their knowledge and emotional attitude towards GMOs

Abstrakt

Introduction: Agriculture based on genetically modified organisms plays an increasingly important role in feeding the world population, which is evidenced by a considerable growth in the size of land under genetically modified crops (GM). Uncertainty and controversy around GM products are mainly due to the lack of accurate and reliable information, and lack of knowledge concerning the essence of genetic modifications, and the effect of GM food on the human organism, and consequently, a negative emotional attitude towards what is unknown. Objective: The objective of the presented study was to discover to what extent knowledge and the emotional attitude of adolescents towards genetically modified organisms is related with acceptance of growing genetically modified plants or breeding GM animals on own farm or allotment garden, and the purchase and consumption of GM food, as well as the use of GMOs in medicine. Material and Methods: The study was conducted by the method of a diagnostic survey using a questionnaire designed by the author, which covered a group of 500 adolescents completing secondary school on the level of maturity examination. The collected material was subjected to statistical analysis. Research hypotheses were verified using chi-square test (χ 2 ), t-Student test, and stepwise regression analysis. Results: Stepwise regression analysis showed that the readiness of adolescents to use genetically modified organisms as food or for the production of pharmaceuticals, the production of GM plants or animals on own farm, depends on an emotional-evaluative attitude towards GMOs, and the level of knowledge concerning the essence of genetic modifications.

Autorzy

Stanisław Lachowski
Stanisław Lachowski
Anna Jurkiewicz
Anna Jurkiewicz
Piotr Choina
Piotr Choina
Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki
Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki
Małgorzata Goździewska
Małgorzata Goździewska
artykuł
ANNALS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
Angielski
2017
24
2
194-200
otwarte czasopismo
CC BY- NC 4.0 Uznanie autorstwa-Użycie niekomercyjne 4.0
ostateczna wersja opublikowana
w momencie opublikowania
30
1,116
4
3