SHORT REPORT
How vegans, vegetarians and carnists differ
in personality traits and attitudes towards animals
| 1 | University of Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia |
Submission date: 2021-03-11
Final revision date: 2021-05-16
Acceptance date: 2021-06-01
Online publication date: 2021-07-01
Publication date: 2022-11-21
Current Issues in Personality Psychology 2022;10(2):147–152
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Food decisions and dietary preferences are affected by a complex set of different cultural or regional factors, but personality traits seem to play an important role too. Previous research suggested that the food preferences related to veganism, vegetarianism, or carnism can be predicted by the Big Five model of personality and reflected in the attitudes towards animals.
Material and methods:
The present study examined personality traits and attitudes towards animals of 190 (M = 24.90, SD = 7.18) Slovak participants, of whom 57 were vegans, 56 vegetarians, and 77 carnists. To measure Big Five personality traits, the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2) was used. Attitudes towards animals were measured by the short 10-item version of the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS-10).
Results:
Vegans and vegetarians scored significantly higher than carnists in open-mindedness and attitude towards animals; there was no difference between scores of vegans and vegetarians. No relationship between the diet groups and demographic variables (gender, education, and age) was identified. From personality traits and sociodemographic variables, only open-mindedness was a significant predictor of attitudes towards animals.
Conclusions:
Vegans and vegetarians differ from carnists primarily in one trait: open-mindedness. Vegans and vegetarians also differ from carnists by holding more positive attitudes towards animals.
Food decisions and dietary preferences are affected by a complex set of different cultural or regional factors, but personality traits seem to play an important role too. Previous research suggested that the food preferences related to veganism, vegetarianism, or carnism can be predicted by the Big Five model of personality and reflected in the attitudes towards animals.
Material and methods:
The present study examined personality traits and attitudes towards animals of 190 (M = 24.90, SD = 7.18) Slovak participants, of whom 57 were vegans, 56 vegetarians, and 77 carnists. To measure Big Five personality traits, the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2) was used. Attitudes towards animals were measured by the short 10-item version of the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS-10).
Results:
Vegans and vegetarians scored significantly higher than carnists in open-mindedness and attitude towards animals; there was no difference between scores of vegans and vegetarians. No relationship between the diet groups and demographic variables (gender, education, and age) was identified. From personality traits and sociodemographic variables, only open-mindedness was a significant predictor of attitudes towards animals.
Conclusions:
Vegans and vegetarians differ from carnists primarily in one trait: open-mindedness. Vegans and vegetarians also differ from carnists by holding more positive attitudes towards animals.
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