. 2026 May 28;16:24458. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-55444-6

Table 2.

Evaluation of microbiota awareness among students studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences according to certain variables.

	General information M ± SD	Product information M ± SD	Chronic disease M ± SD	Probiotic and prebiotic M ± SD	Total score M ± SD
Gender
Female	20.46 ± 6.78	9.64 ± 2.46	15.34 ± 5.01	16.27 ± 5.37	61.72 ± 17.42
Male	18.87 ± 7.83	8.84 ± 2.53	14.74 ± 5.93	14.84 ± 6.09	57.30 ± 19.81
p	0.074^a	< 0.001^a	0.297^a	0.018^a	0.026^a
Effect size	r = -0.086	r = -0.16	r = -0.05	r = -0.11	r = -0.11
Department
Coaching	19.42 ± 7.51	9.36 ± 2.64	14.98 ± 5.64	15.68 ± 5.94	59.45 ± 19.53
Physical education and sports teaching	20.96 ± 6.77	9.62 ± 2.34	15.83 ± 5.13	16.49 ± 5.47	62.91 ± 17.36
Sports management	18.98 ± 7.29	8.84 ± 2.50	14.26 ± 5.20	14.61 ± 5.45	56.70 ± 17.70
p	0.067^b	0.049^b	0.046^b	0.026^b	0.019^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.008	ε² = 0.009	ε² = 0.010	ε² = 0.012	ε² = 0.014
BMI, kg/m²
Underweight	20.59 ± 6.51	9.33 ± 2.55	15.35 ± 5.20	16.09 ± 5.48	61.38 ± 17.55
Normal	19.15 ± 7.30	9.31 ± 2.51	14.57 ± 5.30	15.12 ± 5.63	58.16 ± 18.34
Overweight	21.28 ± 7.21	9.29 ± 2.53	16.20 ± 5.64	16.80 ± 5.83	63.58 ± 18.94
Obese	20.47 ± 7.34	9.76 ± 2.70	16.52 ± 4.83	17.58 ± 5.63	64.35 ± 18.13
p	0.025^b	0.026^b	0.025^b	0.735^b	0.029^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.015	ε² = 0.015	ε² = 0.015	ε2 = − 0.004	ε² = 0.014
Experiencing constipation
Yes	21.59 ± 6.72	10.02 ± 2.72	16.38 ± 4.96	17.33 ± 5.74	65.33 ± 17.99
No	19.65 ± 7.28	9.25 ± 2.49	14.97 ± 5.42	15.71 ± 5.70	59.41 ± 18.49
p	0.142^a	0.113^a	0.080^a	0.033^a	0.034^a
Effect size	r = 0.07	r = 0.08	r = 0.08	r = 0.10	r = 0.10
Diarrhea
Yes	21.20 ± 6.70	9.56 ± 2.45	15.75 ± 5.19	16.34 ± 5.32	62.86 ± 17.23
No	19.34 ± 7.38	9.24 ± 2.54	14.87 ± 5.45	15.47 ± 5.82	58.94 ± 18.86
p	0.017^a	0.273^a	0.228^a	0.162^a	0.060^a
Effect size	r = 0.12	r = 0.05	r = 0.06	r = 0.07	r = 0.09
Gastrointestinal gas complaints
Yes	19.25 ± 7.64	9.70 ± 2.47	14.91 ± 5.15	15.40 ± 5.70	59.27 ± 18.67
No	19.10 ± 7.43	9.06 ± 2.54	14.76 ± 5.66	15.25 ± 5.88	58.18 ± 19.22
Sometimes	21.57 ± 6.45	9.71 ± 2.45	15.88 ± 4.84	16.75 ± 5.22	63.92 ± 16.37
p	0.005^b	0.029^b	0.295^b	0.091^b	0.020^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.020	ε² = 0.012	ε² = 0.001	ε² = 0.007	ε² = 0.013
Skipping main meals
Yes	19.92 ± 7.14	9.45 ± 2.46	15.16 ± 5.23	15.83 ± 5.63	60.37 ± 18.19
No	19.45 ± 7.77	8.73 ± 2.74	14.82 ± 6.13	15.13 ± 6.05	58.14 ± 19.96
p	0.678^a	0.071^a	0.691^a	0.430^a	0.372^a
Effect size	r = 0.02	r = 0.09	r = 0.02	r = 0.04	r = 0.04
The most frequently skipped meal
Morning	19.61 ± 7.46	9.27 ± 2.61	15.18 ± 5.45	15.53 ± 5.84	59.6 ± 19.07
Afternoon	20.25 ± 6.57	9.59 ± 2.37	15.23 ± 4.88	16.23 ± 5.07	61.32 ± 16.57
Evening	20.11 ± 7.59	8.62 ± 2.77	15.74 ± 6.09	15.92 ± 6.38	60.40 ± 20.43
Snack	20.45 ± 7.75	9.18 ± 2.64	15.34 ± 5.98	16.36 ± 6.23	61.34 ± 20.43
p	0.913^b	0.451^b	0.907^b	0.637^b	0.856^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.00
Reason for skipping meals
Lack of time	19.01 ± 7.63	9.17 ± 2.69	14.63 ± 5.56	15.40 ± 5.83	58.21 ± 19.25
Not wanting to eat	20.67 ± 7.22	8.99 ± 2.47	15.73 ± 5.34	16.11 ± 5.64	61.52 ± 18.45
Wanting to lose weight	19.23 ± 6.63	9.38 ± 1.98	14.88 ± 4.39	16.15 ± 5.40	59.65 ± 16.79
Lack of habit	20.13 ± 6.55	9.95 ± 2.23	15.05 ± 5.46	15.81 ± 5.70	60.95 ± 17.75
Because it is not prepared	20.21 ± 7.17	10.25 ± 2.97	15.64 ± 5.45	16.21 ± 5.64	62.32 ± 18.88
Other	22.00 ± 5.70	10.00 ± 1.41	16.00 ± 3.93	17.6 ± 4.77	65.60 ± 14.43
p	0.390^b	0.111^b	0.857^b	0.857^b	0.601^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.001	ε² = 0.009	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.00
Frequency of vegetable and vegetable dish consumption
Every day	17.47 ± 7.19	8.29 ± 2.55	14.61 ± 5.59	14.79 ± 5.62	55.17 ± 19.12
4–5 days a week	20.21 ± 7.33	9.72 ± 2.57	15.28 ± 5.51	15.77 ± 5.81	61.00 ± 18.77
Rarely	20.21 ± 6.99	9.22 ± 2.46	15.26 ± 5.12	16.04 ± 5.48	60.75 ± 17.66
Never	14.09 ± 8.46	8.72 ± 1.84	10.72 ± 7.00	10.63 ± 6.74	44.18 ± 22.42
p	0.010^b	0.027^b	0.093^b	0.040^b	0.027^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.019	ε² = 0.014	ε² = 0.008	ε² = 0.012	ε² = 0.014
Frequency of fruit consumption
Every day	17.57 ± 8.24	8.96 ± 2.69	14.22 ± 6.37	14.15 ± 6.47	54.92 ± 21.31
4–5 days a week	20.25 ± 7.13	9.52 ± 2.58	15.41 ± 5.26	16.22 ± 5.55	61.43 ± 18.21
Rarely	20.29 ± 6.93	9.29 ± 2.42	15.18 ± 5.17	15.8 ± 5.54	60.57 ± 17.64
Never	17.27 ± 7.33	8.63 ± 2.41	13.36 ± 5.69	13.90 ± 5.55	53.18 ± 19.08
p	0.117^b	0.404^b	0.498^b	0.153^b	0.161^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.007	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.005	ε² = 0.005
How to consume the fruit
Fruit juice	17.61 ± 7.65	8.44 ± 2.63	13.25 ± 5.68	14.32 ± 6.09	53.63 ± 20.31
Whole fruit (without peel)	20.19 ± 6.89	9.45 ± 2.47	15.24 ± 5.05	15.90 ± 5.42	60.8 ± 17.26
Whole fruit (with peel)	20.09 ± 7.43	9.44 ± 2.50	15.48 ± 5.59	15.89 ± 5.86	60.91 ± 19.03
p	0.072^b	0.028^b	0.045^b	0.196^b	0.044^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.007	ε² = 0.012	ε² = 0.009	ε² = 0.002	ε² = 0.009
Probiotic consumption status
Yes	20.2 ± 7.16	9.58 ± 2.49	15.37 ± 5.25	16.1 ± 5.67	61.27 ± 18.08
No	18.56 ± 7.46	8.40 ± 2.42	14.13 ± 5.80	14.28 ± 5.61	55.38 ± 19.35
p	0.024^a	< 0.001^a	0.044^a	0.003^a	0.002^a
Effect size	r = 0.11	r = 0.20	r = 0.10	r = 0.15	r = 0.15
Reasons for not consuming probiotic products
I find the use of probiotics unnecessary	13.65 ± 6.78	7.21 ± 2.64	11.04 ± 5.47	11.30 ± 5.32	43.21 ± 18.47
I have no information about its importance	19.55 ± 6.90	8.02 ± 2.62	15.11 ± 5.46	14.91 ± 5.30	57.61 ± 18.08
I don’t find it delicious	17.12 ± 7.99	8.75 ± 2.14	13.21 ± 5.88	13.60 ± 6.15	52.70 ± 20.26
I can’t afford to buy probiotic products	20.10 ± 9.07	8.15 ± 2.14	15.89 ± 7.31	16.21 ± 6.45	60.36 ± 22.58
p	0.007^b	0.112^b	0.019^b	0.044^b	0.019^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.021	ε² = 0.007	ε² = 0.016	ε² = 0.012	r = 0.15
Reasons for consuming probiotic products
Due to health problems, upon expert advice (Dietitian/Doctor)	17.77 ± 7.94	8.52 ± 2.75	14.05 ± 5.73	14.41 ± 6.18	54.77 ± 20.71
There is no health problem, and this is done on the advice of a specialist (Dietitian/Doctor)	19.22 ± 7.17	9.33 ± 2.70	14.71 ± 5.38	15.41 ± 5.82	58.67 ± 18.61
Influenced by promotions related to probiotic foods (social media, television commercials, etc.)	20.37 ± 7.32	9.71 ± 2.21	15.20 ± 5.39	16.16 ± 5.50	61.47 ± 18.25
Reading/following the literature related to the academic studies conducted	20.41 ± 7.32	9.82 ± 2.57	15.84 ± 5.45	16.72 ± 5.92	62.80 ± 18.49
Other	21.54 ± 6.18	9.45 ± 2.85	15.00 ± 4.55	15.41 ± 5.77	61.41 ± 15.90
p	0.152^b	0.037^b	0.606^b	0.244^b	0.253^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.006	ε² = 0.014	ε² = 0.00	ε² = 0.003	ε² = 0.003
Believing that the disease and/or its symptoms have decreased or completely disappeared due to the consumption of probiotic products
Yes, I think so myself	20.21 ± 7.39	9.38 ± 2.53	15.61 ± 5.51	16.34 ± 5.91	61.55 ± 18.90
Yes, expert opinion (Dietitian/Doctor)	18.01 ± 7.54	8.33 ± 3.13	13.98 ± 5.48	14.68 ± 5.63	55.01 ± 19.36
I didn’t see any benefit	20.00 ± 6.78	9.66 ± 2.06	14.72 ± 5.06	15.05 ± 5.23	59.45 ± 17.09
p	0.062^b	0.034^b	0.024^b	0.006^b	0.013^b
Effect size	ε² = 0.008	ε² = 0.011	ε² = 0.013	ε² = 0.019	ε² = 0.016

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. ^a Mann Whitney U test, ^bKruskal-Wallis test, Effect sizes were calculated as r = Z/√N for Mann–Whitney U tests and ε² = (H − k + 1)/(N − k) for Kruskal–Wallis tests.