FOOD AND MUSIC PREFERENCES AS CORRELATES OF PERSONALITY TYPE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES FROM UNIVERSITIES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined food and music preferences as correlates of personality type among Undergraduate students. A total of four hundred and forty (440) undergraduate students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam and Paul University, Awka participated in the study. The participants were selected using convenience sampling method while simple random sampling technique as used in the selection of faculties and levels used in the research. The ages of the participants ranged from 16 to 35 with a mean age of 25.5and standard deviation of .18741. The ten item personality inventory (TIPI) which consists of 10 items, developed by Gosling, Rentfrow and Swann (2003)and validated for use in Nigeria by Umeaku et al (2021) was employed for the study. Two hypotheses were used for the study. The first hypothesis stated that food preferences will positively and significantly correlate with personality type among undergraduate students. The second hypothesis stated that music preferences will positively and significantly correlate with personality type among undergraduate students. The study adopted Correlational design, while Pearson product moment correlation coefficient statistics was used to analyse the data collected. All the hypotheses were accepted. The first hypothesis which stated that food preferences will positively and significantly correlate with personality type among undergraduate students were accepted. The study showed that food preferences had a positive and significant correlation with extraversion personality type (r= .141, p< .01). The second hypothesis which stated that music preferences will positively and significantly correlate with personality type among undergraduate students were accepted. The study showed that music preferences had a positive and significant correlation with extraversion personality type (r= .111, p <.05). Based on the findings of this study, the researchers, therefore, recommend the need for Psychologists to consider the role of food and music preferences in relation to personality when designing interventions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and overall wellbeing of students.