Beyond Disgust: Understanding Athletes’acceptance of Insect- Based Protein Supplements Through Food and Technology Neophobia in Italy

Beyond Disgust: Understanding Athletes’acceptance of Insect- Based Protein Supplements Through Food and Technology Neophobia in Italy | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Beyond Disgust: Understanding Athletes’acceptance of Insect- Based Protein Supplements Through Food and Technology Neophobia in Italy Giulio Cascone, Salvo Toro, Giuseppe Timpanaro This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7923986/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study explores the psychological determinants shaping athletes’ intention to consume insect-based protein supplements, an emerging segment in sustainable sports nutrition. Although edible insects are increasingly promoted as an alternative protein source, Western consumers remain hesitant due to cultural and perceptual barriers. Focusing on physically active Italian consumers, the study investigates how food neophobia (FN) and food technology neophobia (FTN) influence behavioral intention through the mediating roles of perceived benefits (PB) and perceived risks (PR). Data were collected through an online survey administered to 415 regular gym users and amateur athletes and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test both direct and mediated relationships among constructs. Results indicate that perceived benefits significantly and positively influence consumption intention, whereas perceived risks act as a secondary but negative predictor. Both FN and FTN reduce PB and increase PR, confirming their indirect negative impact through cognitive mediation. Benefits related to performance, sustainability, and nutritional value emerge as the main drivers of acceptance among athletes. Overall, this research contributes to the growing literature on novel food acceptance by integrating FN, FTN, and the dual mediation of PB and PR within a single model. The findings provide actionable insights for marketers, nutritionists, and policymakers seeking to promote sustainable protein innovations. Insect-based protein Food neophobia Food technology neophobia Perceived risk and benefit Athlete consumers Sustainable sports nutrition PLS-SEM Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 1. Introduction The current global context calls for a profound rethinking of food production and consumption systems considering demographic pressure, the scarcity of natural resources, biodiversity loss, and the growing impacts of climate change (FAO, 2021 ; IPCC, 2022 ). In this scenario, both the scientific community and international institutions advocate a transition toward more resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, consistent with the principles of the One Health approach and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. One of the most promising strategies to achieve this transition lies in the diversification of protein sources, particularly through novel foods, defined as foods that had not been consumed to a significant extent before 1997 (EU Regulation No. 2015/2283). Among these, edible insects stand out for their high feed conversion efficiency, low environmental footprint, and rich nutritional value, offering additional opportunities for the development of local circular economies (Gebreyes and Teka, 2025 ; Musungu et al., 2023 ). Although entomophagy has been practiced for centuries in many non-European cultures, interest in edible insects within Europe is relatively recent, spurred by positive assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and subsequent authorizations by the European Commission. Nevertheless, consumer acceptance of insect-based products remains limited among Western populations due to persistent psychological and cultural barriers, such as disgust, food neophobia, perceptions of unnaturalness, and concerns about safety (Simeone and Scapato, 2021; Kröger et al., 2022 ; van Huis and Rumpold, 2023 ; Puteri et al., 2023 ; Lin et al., 2025 ). In Italy, these barriers appear particularly pronounced, given the strong gastronomic identity and limited familiarity with such foods (Tuccillo et al., 2020 ). In addition to psychological and cultural barriers, the literature also highlights several facilitating factors, such as the perception of environmental and nutritional benefits, knowledge, and trust in information that can enhance consumers’ willingness to try insect-based foods (Tan et al., 2015; Schouteten et al., 2016 ; Siegrist and Sütterlin, 2017 ; Lo Monaco et al., 2021). Despite the growing academic and commercial interest in novel foods, the segment of physically active consumers remains largely unexplored, even though it represents a strategically relevant target group. Athletes tend to follow dietary regimes centered on health, wellness, and performance; their strong focus on protein intake makes them potentially receptive to alternative sources of protein, provided these are perceived as safe and effective (Kamalakannan and Gudla, 2025 ; Keogh et al., 2019 ). Some studies have shown that insect-based proteins can achieve results comparable to conventional supplements in terms of muscle mass and strength (Vangsoe et al., 2018 ; Pascucci et al., 2015 ), while also offering significant environmental and nutritional advantages (Meyer and Reguant-Closa, 2017 ; da Silva Lucas et al., 2020 ). Building on these premises, the present study investigates the psychological determinants influencing Italian athletes’ intention to consume insect-based protein supplements. Specifically, it examines the role of food neophobia, food technology neophobia, perceived benefits, and perceived risks in shaping consumption intentions. This research provides a twofold contribution. First, it expands the understanding of barriers and facilitators associated with edible insect consumption within a highly relevant market segment. Second, it integrates well-established theoretical constructs into an explanatory model applied to a specific product category (protein bars and powders) that has received limited attention in the European context. The findings are expected to generate practical implications for businesses, policymakers, and nutrition professionals, supporting the development of effective communication and market positioning strategies to promote sustainable and innovative protein sources. 2. Literature review and hypothesis development 2.1. Acceptance of alternative proteins from insects The growing global demand for protein and the urgent need for more sustainable food systems have prompted increasing exploration of alternative protein sources, including those derived from insects (van Huis, 2013 ; Dobermann et al., 2017 ). Insect-based foods offer multiple advantages in terms of production efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and nutritional value (van Huis, 2016 ; Payne et al., 2016 ). Nevertheless, consumer acceptance remains limited, particularly in Western countries (Mancini et al., 2019 ). Several studies have shown that consumption intention is shaped by cognitive, emotional, and cultural factors such as perceived disgust, lack of familiarity, social consumption context, and cultural norms linked to dietary traditions (Verbeke, 2015 ; Hartmann and Siegrist, 2016 ). In Italy, rejection toward insects as food is particularly strong due to the country’s deep-rooted gastronomic identity and a general resistance toward novel foods (Palmieri et al., 2019 ). This reluctance can be attributed to a combination of psychological, cultural, and informational barriers that negatively influence the perception of insects as a viable food source. Among the most relevant obstacles are perceived disgust, a sense of unnaturalness, concerns about food safety, limited trust in production processes, and the lack of familiarity (Guiné et al., 2024 ; Kröger et al., 2022 ; La Barbera et al., 2018 ; Moruzzo et al., 2021 ). Because the commercial availability of insect-based proteins remains limited—particularly in contexts such as Italy—consumers’ attitudes are often shaped more by abstract beliefs and perceptions than by direct experience (Zielińska and Pankiewicz, 2023 ; Ruby et al., 2015 ). For this reason, analyzing the psychological and informational determinants of consumption intention can help develop more effective communication strategies and educational interventions aimed at increasing acceptance. Within this framework, a few recent studies have begun to explore the integration of insect proteins into sports nutrition. Placentino et al. ( 2021 ) examined the acceptability of insect-based protein bars among Italian athletes, emphasizing the role of neophobia and disgust. Similarly, Ren et al. ( 2023 ) found a higher propensity to consume such products among physically active individuals, provided that nutritional benefits are positively perceived. Finally, review studies such as Zielinska and Pankiewicz (2023) suggest that insect proteins may represent a sustainable and functional option for athletes, consistent with the principles of innovative and environmentally conscious sports nutrition. Based on these considerations, the present study investigates the role of specific psychological and informational factors in shaping young Italian athletes’ intention to consume insect-based proteins. 2.2. Perceived Benefits Perceived benefits play a central role in shaping consumer decision-making, as they reflect the subjective evaluation of the positive outcomes associated with a given food product (Bronfman et al., 2011). In the case of insect-derived proteins, these benefits include environmental sustainability, nutritional value, ethical production practices, and even technological innovation (Liu et al., 2025 ; Kłobukowski et al., 2025 ). A considerable body of research has demonstrated that when consumers recognize environmental advantages—such as lower land and water use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and the absence of intensive livestock farming—they are more likely to accept alternative protein sources, including edible insects (Abro et al., 2025 ; Tang et al., 2019 ). Moreover, insect proteins are generally regarded as nutritionally rich, providing high-quality complete proteins as well as B vitamins, iron, and zinc (Acosta Estrada et al., 2021). Effective communication of these benefits is crucial. Experimental studies suggest that informed and well-structured exposure to the potential advantages of insect-based foods can significantly increase consumers’ willingness to try or purchase them (Puteri et al., 2023 ; Riverso et al., 2022 ). Among young adults and health- and sustainability-conscious consumers, highlighting such benefits may serve as a strong motivational driver (Bukchin Peles, 2024). Considering these considerations, it is reasonable to hypothesize that perceived benefits exert a positive influence on the intention to consume insect-based protein products. Hypothesis 1 (H1). Perceived benefits have a significant positive effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins. 2.3. Perceived Risk Perceived risk represents one of the main barriers to the acceptance of novel foods, as it reflects consumers’ subjective evaluation of the potential negative consequences associated with the consumption of a specific product (Siegrist and Hartmann, 2020 ). In the case of insect-based proteins, perceived risks primarily concern issues related to food safety, product naturalness, and feelings of disgust or aversion (Cantalapiedra et al., 2023 ). Many consumers express concerns about the possible presence of pathogens, allergens, or contaminants in insect-based products. These fears are often linked to limited familiarity with the production process and to the perception that safety controls may be inadequate (Pakseresht et al., 2023 ). Additionally, insect-based foods are sometimes perceived as unnatural or culturally inappropriate, reinforcing negative emotional reactions such as disgust (Siegrist and Sütterlin, 2017 ). Unlike perceived benefits, perceived risks tend to evoke stronger and more persistent reactions, particularly when consumers lack direct experience with the product (Siegrist and Sütterlin, 2017 ). As a result, risk perception may act as both a cognitive and emotional barrier, significantly reducing the intention to try or purchase edible insects, even among consumers who are otherwise sensitive to environmental sustainability (Kirsten et al., 2024 ; Stubelj et al., 2025 ). Based on these considerations, the following hypothesis is proposed: Hypothesis 2 (H2). Perceived risk has a significant negative effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins. 2.4. Food Neophobia Food neophobia is defined as the tendency to avoid or reject novel or unfamiliar foods in the absence of prior consumption experience (Pliner and Hobden, 1992 ). It is a well-established psychological construct in the literature on food choice, known to negatively affect dietary variety and openness toward food innovation (Siegrist, 2008 ). Within the context of novel foods and particularly when insects are proposed as a protein source, food neophobia often manifests strongly and is sometimes referred to as edible insect neophobia (Schouteten et al., 2016 ). Neophobic consumers show greater resistance to accepting such foods, regardless of their potential nutritional, environmental, or ethical advantages. This resistance is driven by factors such as disgust, lack of cultural familiarity, fear of the unknown, and limited exposure to insects as food (White et al., 2023 ; Wendin et al., 2021). Food neophobia not only exerts a direct influence on consumption intention but also shapes product evaluation indirectly. Highly neophobic consumers tend to underestimate the benefits associated with novel foods and, conversely, to overestimate perceived risks, thereby reinforcing their reluctance to consume such products (Szlachciuk and Żakowska-Biemans, 2024 ; La Barbera et al., 2018 ; Coulthard et al., 2022 ). Based on these considerations, the following hypotheses are proposed: Hypothesis 3 (H3). Food neophobia has a significant negative effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins. Hypothesis a (H3a). Food neophobia has a significant negative effect on the perception of benefits associated with insect-based proteins. Hypothesis b (H3b). Food neophobia has a significant positive effect on the perceived risk associated with the consumption of insect-based proteins. 2.5 Food Technology Neophobia Food Technology Neophobia (FTN) refers to consumers’ tendency to feel suspicion, distrust, or rejection toward new or unfamiliar food technologies (Cox and Evans, 2008 ). Unlike general food neophobia, which concerns the novelty of the food itself, FTN specifically relates to negative perceptions of the production process, even when the final product is familiar. Recent studies have shown that FTN represents one of the most significant psychological barriers to the acceptance of novel foods, as it reduces trust in the product, generates skepticism toward claimed benefits, and amplifies perceived risks (Wendt and Weinrich, 2023 ; Giacalone and Jaeger, 2023 ). Individuals with high levels of FTN tend to evaluate more negatively those foods that are perceived as “unnatural” or overly processed (Song et al., 2022 ). In the case of insect-based proteins, FTN plays a particularly relevant role. Although the core ingredient is natural, many commercial formulations such as protein bars, flours, burgers, or biscuits are highly processed and can easily be associated with technologies perceived as artificial. In such cases, consumers may not be deterred by the presence of the insect itself but rather by the industrial process behind it, especially when this process is poorly understood or perceived as lacking transparency (Szczepanski et al., 2022 ; Demartini et al., 2024 ). Moreover, FTN can exert an indirect influence by diminishing perceived environmental or nutritional benefits or by increasing perceived risks related to product safety, naturalness, or wholesomeness (Günden et al., 2024 ; Yaşa Özeltürkay et al., 2025 ). Based on these theoretical and empirical insights, the following hypotheses are proposed: Hypothesis 4 (H4). Food Technology Neophobia has a significant negative effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins. Hypothesis a (H4a). Food Technology Neophobia has a significant negative effect on the perception of benefits associated with insect-based proteins. Hypothesis b (H4b). Food Technology Neophobia has a significant positive effect on the perceived risk associated with the consumption of insect-based proteins. 2.6. Mediation of Perceived Benefits and Perceived Risks The effect of psychological barriers such as FN and FTN on the intention to consume insect-based proteins may be moderated by consumers’ perceptions of the associated benefits and risks. The literature suggests that the negative impact of FN and FTN on acceptance can be mitigated when individuals recognize meaningful advantages in terms of sustainability, health, or animal welfare (Sheng et al., 2025 ). Previous studies have shown that individuals with high levels of neophobia tend to evaluate new or processed foods more negatively, not only because of their novelty but also due to a lower perception of benefits and a higher perception of risks compared to less neophobic consumers (Martins et al., 2019 ). This phenomenon can be explained by a selective cognitive bias: people who are more neophobic—or more sensitive to disgust—tend to focus on negative or threatening information while neglecting the positive aspects of the food (Sogari et al., 2019 ; Sogari et al., 2022 ). In the case of edible insects, this effect becomes particularly salient. Individuals with high FN or FTN may overlook potential environmental or nutritional benefits and instead focus on aspects perceived as risky, such as hygiene, safety, or naturalness. In this sense, perceived benefits and perceived risks function as mediators between psychological barriers and consumption intention. Based on these theoretical considerations, the following mediation hypotheses are proposed: Hypothesis a (H5a). Perceived benefits negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Neophobia and consumption intention. Hypothesis b (H5b). Perceived benefits negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Technology Neophobia and consumption intention. Hypothesis a (H6a). Perceived risks negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Neophobia and consumption intention. Hypothesis b (H6b). Perceived risks negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Technology Neophobia and consumption intention. Accordingly, the conceptual framework of this study is illustrated in Fig. 1 . 3. Methods 3.1 Data Collection Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire developed using Google Forms. The survey was distributed via multiple social media platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Telegram), selected for their ability to reach a heterogeneous audience in terms of age, lifestyle, and level of interest in food-related topics (Cascone et al., 2025a ). The questionnaire was administered anonymously, ensuring the confidentiality of responses and compliance with current data protection regulations (EU Regulation No. 2016/679). All participants provided informed consent before accessing the survey, which included an introductory statement outlining the study objectives. The data collection took place between March and July 2025 and resulted in a total of 415 fully completed questionnaires. Inclusion criteria required participants to be at least 18 years old, reside in Italy, and engage in sports activities on a regular basis. The target group consisted of individuals potentially interested in consuming protein-based products, including supplements and novel protein sources such as insect-derived proteins. 3.2 Questionnaire The questionnaire was organized into two main sections, preceded by a brief introduction explaining the purpose of the research, the instructions for completion, and the assurance of response anonymity. The first section collected information aimed at assessing the main psychological and cognitive factors associated with the intention to consume insect-based protein products. All items were measured using a five-point Likert scale (1 = “Strongly disagree,” 5 = “Strongly agree”) (Table 1 ). Specifically: Perceived Benefits (PB) : assessed respondents’ agreement with a set of statements regarding the potential environmental, nutritional, and social advantages of consuming insect-based proteins (e.g., pollution reduction, sustainability, health). Perceived Risk (PR) : included statements related to concerns about health, naturalness, and safety of insect-based food products. Food Neophobia (FN) : evaluated respondents’ general willingness to try new foods, adapting the original scale developed by Pliner and Hobden ( 1992 ). Food Technology Neophobia (FTN) : measured distrust toward new food technologies, following the framework proposed by Cox and Evans ( 2008 ). Consumption Intention (INT) : captured respondents’ future propensity to consume insect-based protein products, based on both personal and environmental motivations. Table 1 Items used with main statistics Item Statement Mean (score) Standard Deviation INT 1 I will consider consuming insect-based protein. 2.93 1.44 INT 2 I intend to spend more on insect-based protein than on conventional protein. 2.39 1.33 INT 3 I plan to consume insect-based protein in the future because of its positive contribution to the environment. 2.84 1.44 INT 4 I want to consume insect-based protein soon. 2.60 1.46 FN 1 I am constantly looking for new and different foods*. 2.89 1.39 FN 2 I don't trust new foods. 2.25 1.31 FN 3 I like foods from other countries*. 3.08 1.38 FN 4 At dinner parties, I encourage people to try new foods. 2.91 1.28 FN 5 I am afraid to eat things I have never tried before. 2.35 1.38 FN 6 I like to try new foods from all over the world*. 3.32 1.44 FTN 1 The benefits of new food technologies are often overestimated. 2.57 1.30 FTN 2 There are many tasty foods available, so there is no need to use new food technologies. 2.36 1.28 FTN 3 New food technologies diminish the natural quality of foods. 2.48 1.33 FTN 4 New products obtained through food technologies can help people follow a balanced diet*. 3.37 1.28 FTN 5 Innovations in food technologies can help us produce food sustainably*. 3.54 1.33 PB 1 Insects as a source of protein can prevent animal-borne diseases, increasing food security. 2.83 1.32 PB 2 Insects may be more nutritious than conventional protein sources. 3.14 1.33 PB 3 The insect production process is likely to be more environmentally friendly and hygienic than traditional agriculture. 3.21 1.33 PB 4 Consuming insects will bring significant benefits to me and my family. 2.86 1.42 PR 1 Long-term consumption of insects as a source of protein is likely to have more negative effects on health than consumption of conventional proteins. 2.46 1.27 PR 2 Insects as a source of protein go against the laws of nature. 2.09 1.30 PR 3 The thought of consuming insects as a source of protein arouses feelings of disgust and aversion. 3.12 1.38 PR 4 Insects as a source of protein pose a high risk to me and my family. 2.20 1.35 Notes: FN = Food neophobia; FTN = Food Technology Neophobia; PB = Perceived Benefits; PR = Perceived Risk; INT = Intention; * = item reverse scored The second section collected socio-demographic and personal information, including age, gender, education level, region of residence, frequency of physical activity, and familiarity with protein-based foods. These data were used to describe the overall profile of the sample (Table 2 ). Table 2 Sample characteristics (N = 415) Variable Variable Description Absolute frequency Percentage Frequence (%) Gender Male 247 40.5 Female 168 59.5 Age 18–24 127 30.6 25–34 149 35.9 35–44 81 19.5 45–54 38 9.2 55 and above 20 4.8 Occupation Worker 231 55.7 Student 162 39.0 Other 22 5.3 How many times a week do you exercise? 1–2 times 177 42.7 3–4 times 171 41.2 5–6 times 59 14.2 Every day 8 1.9 How often do you consume protein supplements (protein powder, bars, etc.)? 1–2 times a week 57 13.7 3–4 times a week 73 17.6 Never 122 29.4 Daily 48 11.6 Rarely (less than once a week) 115 27.7 How much do you spend each month on protein supplements? Less than 20€ 256 61.7 20–50€ 131 31.6 More than 50€ 28 6.7 3.3 Data analysis To test the proposed hypotheses and explore the relationships among the theoretical constructs considered in the study, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed. This method, based on structural equation modeling, is particularly suitable for exploratory studies involving relatively small sample sizes and non-normally distributed data (Califano et al., 2024 ). Methodologically, the PLS-SEM framework consists of two main components: the measurement model and the structural model. The measurement model assesses the consistency between each latent construct and its observed indicators, while the structural model examines the strength and direction of the relationships among constructs (Cammarata et al., 2024 ). For the measurement model, internal reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and rho_A, both considered acceptable when exceeding the threshold of 0.70. Convergent validity was verified through the Average Variance Extracted (AVE), with a minimum acceptable value of 0.50. Only items with standardized loadings above 0.60 were retained in the model. Discriminant validity was assessed using the Fornell–Larcker criterion, which requires that the square root of the AVE for each construct be greater than its correlations with other constructs in the model (Cascone et al., 2025b ). Finally, to evaluate the structural model, the path coefficients and their statistical significance were estimated. In addition to testing the direct relationships among variables, indirect effects were also examined to assess the mediating role of perceived benefits and perceived risks in the relationships between the two forms of neophobia and consumption intention. 4. Results 4.1 Descriptive statistics The final sample consisted of 415 respondents, with a predominance of women (59.5%) and a strong concentration in the 18–34 age group (66.5%). More than half of the participants (55.7%) were employed, while 39% were students. Most respondents reported engaging in physical activity between one and four times per week. Approximately 70% of the participants consumed protein supplements at least occasionally, although more than 60% spent less than €20 per month on such products. Regarding the psychological variables, the mean values of the items generally fell within an intermediate range, indicating attitudes that were neither strongly negative nor fully favorable. Among the constructs, PB showed the highest mean scores, with several items exceeding a value of 3, suggesting some recognition of the advantages associated with insect-based proteins. Conversely, INT displayed relatively low values, ranging between 2.4 and 2.9, confirming a still limited willingness to use such products. PR also included items with mean scores above 3 (e.g., feelings of disgust), highlighting the persistence of emotional barriers among more reluctant consumers. 4.2 Measurement model The assessment of the measurement model was conducted to verify the reliability and validity of the latent constructs used in the study. As shown in Table 3 , all items exhibited standardized loadings above the recommended threshold of 0.60, except for item FN2 (λ = 0.595), which was nonetheless retained for theoretical consistency with the original scale. Internal reliability proved satisfactory for all constructs, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.833 (FTN) to 0.955 (INT). The rho_A coefficients also ranged between 0.837 (FTN) and 0.958 (INT), well above the recommended cut-off of 0.70, confirming the stability of the measurement scales. Convergent validity was supported, as all constructs displayed Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values exceeding the minimum acceptable level of 0.50, ranging from 0.597 (FN) to 0.880 (INT). Discriminant validity was evaluated using the Fornell–Larcker criterion. As shown in Table 4 , for each construct, the square root of the AVE was greater than its highest squared correlation with any other construct, confirming the distinct conceptual nature of the dimensions analyzed. Table 3 Measurement model of the PLS-SEM. Item / Construct INT FN FTN PB PR INT 1 0.933 INT 2 0.906 INT 3 0.958 INT 4 0.955 FN 1 0.799 FN 2 0.595 FN 3 0.874 FN 4 0.804 FN 5 0.634 FN 6 0.882 FTN 1 0.687 FTN 2 0.817 FTN 3 0.798 FTN 4 0.764 FTN 5 0.798 PB 1 0.859 PB 2 0.913 PB 3 0.913 PB 4 0.916 PR 1 0.888 PR 2 0.901 PR 3 0.760 PR 4 0.901 Cronbach α 0.955 0.861 0.833 0.922 0.885 rho_A 0.958 0.882 0.837 0.926 0.887 AVE 0.880 0.597 0.599 0.810 0.748 Notes: FN = Food neophobia; FTN = Food Technology Neophobia; PB = Perceived Benefits; PR = Perceived Risk; INT = Intention Table 4 Discriminant validity with the Fornell-Larcker criterion. INT FN FTN PB PR INT 1.000 FN 0.337 1.000 FTN 0.216 0.493 1.000 PB 0.608 0.328 0.275 1.000 PR 0.151 0.289 0.440 0.122 1.000 AVE 0.880 0.597 0.599 0.810 0.748 Notes: FN = Food neophobia; FTN = Food Technology Neophobia; PB = Perceived Benefits; PR = Perceived Risk; INT = Intention. AVE = average variance extracted. The square root of AVE (last row) for each latent construct should be higher than the other correlation values among the latent variables. 4.3 Structural Model The structural model was assessed to test the proposed hypotheses and analyze the relationships among the constructs. Figure 2 illustrates the full model, including both direct and mediated paths. As reported in Table 5 , all hypotheses were supported, for both direct and indirect effects. Among the direct relationships, PR exerted a negative and significant effect on INT (H1: β = − 0.115, p < 0.01), whereas PB showed a strong positive effect (H2: β = 0.679, p < 0.001). Both mediating constructs were significantly influenced by FN and FTN. Specifically, FN reduced perceived benefits (H3a: β = − 0.404, p < 0.001) and increased perceived risk (H3b: β = 0.142, p < 0.01). FTN followed a similar pattern, negatively affecting PB (H4a: β = − 0.240, p < 0.001) and positively influencing PR (H4b: β = 0.564, p < 0.001). Both FN and FTN also had significant negative effects on consumption intention (H3: β = − 0.211, p < 0.001; H4: β = − 0.117, p < 0.05), although with different magnitudes. In addition to direct effects, a mediation analysis was performed to examine the mediating roles of Perceived Benefits (PB) and Perceived Risk (PR) in the relationships between FN, FTN, and INT. The results, presented in Table 6 , indicate that PB significantly and negatively mediates the relationship between FTN and INT (H5a: β = − 0.163, p < 0.001), as well as between FN and INT (H5b: β = − 0.275, p < 0.001). Similarly, PR also demonstrated a significant, though weaker, mediating effect on the relationships between FTN and INT (H6a: β = − 0.065, p < 0.01) and between FN and INT (H6b: β = − 0.016, p < 0.05). These results suggest that perceived benefits represent the main channel through which food and technological neophobia influence consumption intention, while the role of perceived risk, though statistically significant, is comparatively smaller. Finally, the multicollinearity analysis reported in Table 6 shows that all Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) values were below the critical threshold of 3.3, indicating the absence of multicollinearity issues among the predictors. Table 5 Path coefficients and hypothesis testing. Effect Relationships β Decision Direct effects H1 PB → INT -0.115** Supported H2 PR → INT 0.679*** Supported H3 FN → INT -0.211*** Supported H3a FN → PB -0.404*** Supported H3b FN → PR 0.142** Supported H4 FTN → INT -0.117* Supported H4a FTN → PB -0.240*** Supported H4b FTN → PR 0.564*** Supported Indirect effects H5a FTN → PB → INT -0.163*** Supported H5b FN → PB → INT -0.275*** Supported H6a FTN → PR → INT -0.065** Supported H6b FN → PR → INT -0.016* Supported Total effects FN → INT -0.502*** FTN → INT -0.345*** * p < .05, ** p < .01, and *** p < .001. Table 6 Structural model - Multicollinearity check (Variance Inflated Factors -VIFs) PR PB INT FN 1.971 1.971 2.272 FTN 1.971 1.971 2.662 PB 1.56 PR 1.822 Values below 3.3 indicate an acceptable level of correlation among constructs. 5. Discussion The aim of this study was to examine the psychological and perceptual factors influencing Italian athletes’ intention to consume insect-based protein supplements. The proposed PLS-SEM model confirmed the robustness of the hypothesized relationships, showing that perceived benefits and perceived risks significantly mediate the effects of food and technological neophobia on consumption intention. Beyond the statistical confirmation, the findings offer several interpretative insights that help clarify—and in part revise—previous conclusions in the existing literature. The main finding concerns the dominant role of perceived benefits, which emerged as the strongest predictor of consumption intention. This result supports Hypothesis H1, indicating that perceived benefits exert a positive and significant influence on the intention to consume insect-based proteins. This partially challenges the common argument that the acceptance of novel foods is primarily hindered by negative emotions and disgust responses (Hartmann and Siegrist, 2016 ; Kröger et al., 2022 ). Among athletes, motivation related to physical performance and personal health appears to partially overcome these emotional barriers, leading to a more functional and utilitarian evaluation of such products (Kuff et al., 2023 ). Previous studies focused on general consumers tended to underestimate this positive role of perceived benefits (La Barbera et al., 2018 ; Moruzzo et al., 2021 ). The present results suggest that when the product is perceived as consistent with personal nutritional and performance goals, perceived utility can neutralize initial reluctance. This evidence reinforces the idea that usage motivation is a crucial determinant of innovative food acceptance (Hwang and Kim, 2021 ). For athletes, functional value—such as protein intake, bioavailability, and sustainability—acts as a stronger driver than mere environmental appeal. This finding suggests that communication strategies should be reformulated not only around ethical or ecological dimensions, but also around performance and physiological benefits. The perceived risk confirmed its negative influence on consumption intention, although with a lower intensity compared to previous studies (Siegrist and Sütterlin, 2017 ; Boehm et al., 2021 ). This finding partially challenges the “risk-dominant” approach that characterizes much of the Western literature on entomophagy. The athletic target group appears to be more rational and better informed than the average consumer, likely due to greater familiarity with dietary supplements and higher trust in products that are regulated for sports use. Nevertheless, perceived risk does not disappear entirely: concerns related to naturalness and safety persist, especially for products perceived as “technological” or “artificial.” This suggests that transparent communication and hygienic–sanitary certification remain key elements in building consumer trust (Pakseresht et al., 2023 ; Khalil et al., 2025 ). This evidence supports Hypothesis H2, which predicted a negative effect of perceived risk on consumption intention. Both FN and FTN exert significant negative effects on consumption intention, although with different magnitudes. The former reflects cultural and identity-related resistance, consistent with findings from other Mediterranean contexts (Palmieri et al., 2019 ; Sogari et al., 2023 ; Lombardi et al., 2019 ). The latter reveals a more cognitive form of distrust toward production processes, translating into skepticism about the product’s perceived quality and purity. The coexistence of these two attitudes expands the understanding of consumer reluctance: it is not merely a rejection of food novelty, but also an epistemic skepticism toward technology applied to food (Cox and Evans, 2008 ; Wendt and Weinrich, 2023 ). This study empirically confirms that both constructs operate through mediated pathways: they reduce perceived benefits and increase perceived risks, demonstrating that distrust toward innovation functions indirectly through cognitive evaluation. It is this selective perception—downplaying advantages while amplifying risks—that explains reluctance, in line with recent cognitive mediation models discussed in the literature (Valesi et al., 2024 ; Sheng et al., 2025 ). These results support Hypotheses H3 and H4, and specifically sub-hypotheses H3a–H4a and H3b–H4b, confirming that both food and technological neophobia decrease perceived benefits while amplifying perceived risks. From a theoretical perspective, this model contributes to extending research on novel foods by integrating two dispositional constructs (FN and FTN) with two perceptual constructs (PB and PR) within a single mediated framework. The present analysis shifts the focus from normative and control factors toward the cognitive and affective processes that filter the relationship between attitudes and behavioral intention. This dual-path approach—benefit-driven versus risk-driven—offers a more nuanced interpretation of decision-making mechanisms, suggesting that the formation of intention is grounded in perceptual balance rather than in social norms or perceived control. The overall model also supports Hypotheses H5 and H6, confirming the dual mediation exerted by perceived benefits and perceived risks in the relationship between dispositional attitudes and behavioral intention. From a practical standpoint, the findings indicate that marketing and communication strategies should prioritize messages grounded in functional evidence—such as protein efficacy, safety, and traceability—rather than relying solely on generic appeals to sustainability. For sports supplement producers, a gradual introduction of “invisible” insect forms (e.g., flours or protein powders) into familiar products may prove effective in reducing both visual and cognitive bias. At the institutional level, European regulation on novel foods should be complemented by targeted food education campaigns, particularly aimed at sensitive groups such as athletes and young adults, to clarify safety controls and environmental benefits. Such actions may not only foster the growth of the edible insect market but also contribute to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. 6. Conclusions This study investigated the psychological mechanisms underlying Italian athletes’ intention to consume insect-based protein supplements, highlighting the central role of perceived benefits and perceived risks as mediators between food and technological neophobia and behavioral intention. The findings indicate that perceived benefits serve as the main cognitive driver of acceptance, whereas perceived risks act as a secondary yet persistent deterrent. The integration of both mediation pathways into a single model represents a theoretical advancement, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic interplay between dispositional predispositions and cognitive evaluations. From a theoretical standpoint, this research contributes to redefining the analysis of novel food acceptance within the sports domain, showing that functional motivation can mitigate neophobic resistance. On a practical level, the results suggest that communication and product design strategies emphasizing tangible and performance-related benefits may be more effective than those solely focused on ethical or environmental appeals. Collaborations with gyms, nutritionists, and credible testimonials could further strengthen consumer trust and reduce perceived risk. However, this study presents some limitations. Although the sample size was adequate, it was limited to the Italian context and to the sports segment, which may constrain the generalizability of the findings. Moreover, the cross-sectional nature of the data does not allow for causal inference over time. Self-reported measures may also be affected by cognitive biases, such as social desirability or discrepancies between stated intentions and actual behavior. Future research should include longitudinal or experimental studies to observe how the communication of benefits influences consumption propensity over time. It would also be valuable to test the proposed model across international samples and among non-athlete populations, incorporating potential moderators such as education level, prior experience with innovative foods, and health orientation. Finally, integrating real behavioural measures, such as simulated purchasing choices or controlled sensory tests, would help bridge the gap between declared intention and actual behavior. Abbreviations AVE Average Variance Extracted EFSA European Food Safety Authority FN Food Neophobia FTN Food Technology Neophobia INT Consumption Intention PB Perceived Benefits PLS SEM–Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling PR Perceived Risk VIF Variance Inflation Factor Declarations Ethics Approval declaration The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Funding Self-funded paper. Author Contribution GC contributed to conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, and writing—original draft preparation; ST was involved in data collection, data curation, and writing—review and editing; GT contributed to supervision, project administration, and writing—review and editing. Acknowledgements Not applicable. Data Availability The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. References Abro Z, Sibhatu KT, Fetene GM, Alemu MH, Tanga CM, Sevgan S, Kassie M (2025) Global review of consumer preferences and willingness to pay for edible insects and derived products. Global Food Secur 44:100834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100834 Acosta-Estrada BA, Reyes A, Rosell CM, Rodrigo D, Ibarra-Herrera CC (2021) Benefits and challenges in the incorporation of insects in food products. 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12:53:43","extension":"html","order_by":14,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":216984,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7923986/v1/53e839eadf43bf2f50756a0b.html"},{"id":95298932,"identity":"7e7f0c3a-5210-4fc9-b515-7cfd7af9653a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-06 12:53:44","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1360637,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eTheoretical framework.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7923986/v1/a797b250a4ae115c73d9f304.png"},{"id":95298945,"identity":"777e8d0e-1442-478a-98d1-10b73271e382","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-06 12:53:45","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1386195,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eStructural model results of PLS-SEM. * p \u0026lt; .05, ** p \u0026lt; .01, and *** p \u0026lt; .001.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7923986/v1/77389e013f50355921f3fc40.png"},{"id":100359783,"identity":"ed81851f-c212-4fe4-9bef-d4c5a7090399","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-16 07:25:24","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":4060253,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7923986/v1/da065ae6-e466-48de-a050-e6aa8c0ec2c0.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eBeyond Disgust: Understanding Athletes’acceptance of Insect- Based Protein Supplements Through Food and Technology Neophobia in Italy\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe current global context calls for a profound rethinking of food production and consumption systems considering demographic pressure, the scarcity of natural resources, biodiversity loss, and the growing impacts of climate change (FAO, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e; IPCC, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). In this scenario, both the scientific community and international institutions advocate a transition toward more resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, consistent with the principles of the One Health approach and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the most promising strategies to achieve this transition lies in the diversification of protein sources, particularly through novel foods, defined as foods that had not been consumed to a significant extent before 1997 (EU Regulation No. 2015/2283). Among these, edible insects stand out for their high feed conversion efficiency, low environmental footprint, and rich nutritional value, offering additional opportunities for the development of local circular economies (Gebreyes and Teka, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e; Musungu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Although entomophagy has been practiced for centuries in many non-European cultures, interest in edible insects within Europe is relatively recent, spurred by positive assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and subsequent authorizations by the European Commission.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNevertheless, consumer acceptance of insect-based products remains limited among Western populations due to persistent psychological and cultural barriers, such as disgust, food neophobia, perceptions of unnaturalness, and concerns about safety (Simeone and Scapato, 2021; Kr\u0026ouml;ger et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; van Huis and Rumpold, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Puteri et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Lin et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). In Italy, these barriers appear particularly pronounced, given the strong gastronomic identity and limited familiarity with such foods (Tuccillo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to psychological and cultural barriers, the literature also highlights several facilitating factors, such as the perception of environmental and nutritional benefits, knowledge, and trust in information that can enhance consumers\u0026rsquo; willingness to try insect-based foods (Tan et al., 2015; Schouteten et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Siegrist and S\u0026uuml;tterlin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Lo Monaco et al., 2021).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite the growing academic and commercial interest in novel foods, the segment of physically active consumers remains largely unexplored, even though it represents a strategically relevant target group. Athletes tend to follow dietary regimes centered on health, wellness, and performance; their strong focus on protein intake makes them potentially receptive to alternative sources of protein, provided these are perceived as safe and effective (Kamalakannan and Gudla, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e; Keogh et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Some studies have shown that insect-based proteins can achieve results comparable to conventional supplements in terms of muscle mass and strength (Vangsoe et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Pascucci et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e), while also offering significant environmental and nutritional advantages (Meyer and Reguant-Closa, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; da Silva Lucas et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBuilding on these premises, the present study investigates the psychological determinants influencing Italian athletes\u0026rsquo; intention to consume insect-based protein supplements. Specifically, it examines the role of food neophobia, food technology neophobia, perceived benefits, and perceived risks in shaping consumption intentions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis research provides a twofold contribution. First, it expands the understanding of barriers and facilitators associated with edible insect consumption within a highly relevant market segment. Second, it integrates well-established theoretical constructs into an explanatory model applied to a specific product category (protein bars and powders) that has received limited attention in the European context. The findings are expected to generate practical implications for businesses, policymakers, and nutrition professionals, supporting the development of effective communication and market positioning strategies to promote sustainable and innovative protein sources.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Literature review and hypothesis development","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.1. Acceptance of alternative proteins from insects\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe growing global demand for protein and the urgent need for more sustainable food systems have prompted increasing exploration of alternative protein sources, including those derived from insects (van Huis, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR66\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e; Dobermann et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). Insect-based foods offer multiple advantages in terms of production efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and nutritional value (van Huis, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Payne et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). Nevertheless, consumer acceptance remains limited, particularly in Western countries (Mancini et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeveral studies have shown that consumption intention is shaped by cognitive, emotional, and cultural factors such as perceived disgust, lack of familiarity, social consumption context, and cultural norms linked to dietary traditions (Verbeke, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Hartmann and Siegrist, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). In Italy, rejection toward insects as food is particularly strong due to the country\u0026rsquo;s deep-rooted gastronomic identity and a general resistance toward novel foods (Palmieri et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis reluctance can be attributed to a combination of psychological, cultural, and informational barriers that negatively influence the perception of insects as a viable food source. Among the most relevant obstacles are perceived disgust, a sense of unnaturalness, concerns about food safety, limited trust in production processes, and the lack of familiarity (Guin\u0026eacute; et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e; Kr\u0026ouml;ger et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; La Barbera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Moruzzo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Because the commercial availability of insect-based proteins remains limited\u0026mdash;particularly in contexts such as Italy\u0026mdash;consumers\u0026rsquo; attitudes are often shaped more by abstract beliefs and perceptions than by direct experience (Zielińska and Pankiewicz, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR75\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Ruby et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). For this reason, analyzing the psychological and informational determinants of consumption intention can help develop more effective communication strategies and educational interventions aimed at increasing acceptance.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWithin this framework, a few recent studies have begun to explore the integration of insect proteins into sports nutrition. Placentino et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) examined the acceptability of insect-based protein bars among Italian athletes, emphasizing the role of neophobia and disgust. Similarly, Ren et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) found a higher propensity to consume such products among physically active individuals, provided that nutritional benefits are positively perceived. Finally, review studies such as Zielinska and Pankiewicz (2023) suggest that insect proteins may represent a sustainable and functional option for athletes, consistent with the principles of innovative and environmentally conscious sports nutrition.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on these considerations, the present study investigates the role of specific psychological and informational factors in shaping young Italian athletes\u0026rsquo; intention to consume insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.2. Perceived Benefits\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerceived benefits play a central role in shaping consumer decision-making, as they reflect the subjective evaluation of the positive outcomes associated with a given food product (Bronfman et al., 2011). In the case of insect-derived proteins, these benefits include environmental sustainability, nutritional value, ethical production practices, and even technological innovation (Liu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e; Kłobukowski et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA considerable body of research has demonstrated that when consumers recognize environmental advantages\u0026mdash;such as lower land and water use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and the absence of intensive livestock farming\u0026mdash;they are more likely to accept alternative protein sources, including edible insects (Abro et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e; Tang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR63\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Moreover, insect proteins are generally regarded as nutritionally rich, providing high-quality complete proteins as well as B vitamins, iron, and zinc (Acosta Estrada et al., 2021).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffective communication of these benefits is crucial. Experimental studies suggest that informed and well-structured exposure to the potential advantages of insect-based foods can significantly increase consumers\u0026rsquo; willingness to try or purchase them (Puteri et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Riverso et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Among young adults and health- and sustainability-conscious consumers, highlighting such benefits may serve as a strong motivational driver (Bukchin Peles, 2024).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsidering these considerations, it is reasonable to hypothesize that perceived benefits exert a positive influence on the intention to consume insect-based protein products.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(H1).\u003c/b\u003e Perceived benefits have a significant positive effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.3. Perceived Risk\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerceived risk represents one of the main barriers to the acceptance of novel foods, as it reflects consumers\u0026rsquo; subjective evaluation of the potential negative consequences associated with the consumption of a specific product (Siegrist and Hartmann, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). In the case of insect-based proteins, perceived risks primarily concern issues related to food safety, product naturalness, and feelings of disgust or aversion (Cantalapiedra et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMany consumers express concerns about the possible presence of pathogens, allergens, or contaminants in insect-based products. These fears are often linked to limited familiarity with the production process and to the perception that safety controls may be inadequate (Pakseresht et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, insect-based foods are sometimes perceived as unnatural or culturally inappropriate, reinforcing negative emotional reactions such as disgust (Siegrist and S\u0026uuml;tterlin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike perceived benefits, perceived risks tend to evoke stronger and more persistent reactions, particularly when consumers lack direct experience with the product (Siegrist and S\u0026uuml;tterlin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). As a result, risk perception may act as both a cognitive and emotional barrier, significantly reducing the intention to try or purchase edible insects, even among consumers who are otherwise sensitive to environmental sustainability (Kirsten et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e; Stubelj et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on these considerations, the following hypothesis is proposed:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(H2).\u003c/b\u003e Perceived risk has a significant negative effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.4. Food Neophobia\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFood neophobia is defined as the tendency to avoid or reject novel or unfamiliar foods in the absence of prior consumption experience (Pliner and Hobden, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e). It is a well-established psychological construct in the literature on food choice, known to negatively affect dietary variety and openness toward food innovation (Siegrist, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWithin the context of novel foods and particularly when insects are proposed as a protein source, food neophobia often manifests strongly and is sometimes referred to as edible insect neophobia (Schouteten et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). Neophobic consumers show greater resistance to accepting such foods, regardless of their potential nutritional, environmental, or ethical advantages. This resistance is driven by factors such as disgust, lack of cultural familiarity, fear of the unknown, and limited exposure to insects as food (White et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR73\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Wendin et al., 2021).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFood neophobia not only exerts a direct influence on consumption intention but also shapes product evaluation indirectly. Highly neophobic consumers tend to underestimate the benefits associated with novel foods and, conversely, to overestimate perceived risks, thereby reinforcing their reluctance to consume such products (Szlachciuk and Żakowska-Biemans, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR62\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e; La Barbera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Coulthard et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on these considerations, the following hypotheses are proposed:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 3\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(H3).\u003c/b\u003e Food neophobia has a significant negative effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ea (H3a).\u003c/b\u003e Food neophobia has a significant negative effect on the perception of benefits associated with insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eb (H3b).\u003c/b\u003e Food neophobia has a significant positive effect on the perceived risk associated with the consumption of insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5 Food Technology Neophobia\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFood Technology Neophobia (FTN) refers to consumers\u0026rsquo; tendency to feel suspicion, distrust, or rejection toward new or unfamiliar food technologies (Cox and Evans, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). Unlike general food neophobia, which concerns the novelty of the food itself, FTN specifically relates to negative perceptions of the production process, even when the final product is familiar.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecent studies have shown that FTN represents one of the most significant psychological barriers to the acceptance of novel foods, as it reduces trust in the product, generates skepticism toward claimed benefits, and amplifies perceived risks (Wendt and Weinrich, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Giacalone and Jaeger, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals with high levels of FTN tend to evaluate more negatively those foods that are perceived as \u0026ldquo;unnatural\u0026rdquo; or overly processed (Song et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the case of insect-based proteins, FTN plays a particularly relevant role. Although the core ingredient is natural, many commercial formulations such as protein bars, flours, burgers, or biscuits are highly processed and can easily be associated with technologies perceived as artificial. In such cases, consumers may not be deterred by the presence of the insect itself but rather by the industrial process behind it, especially when this process is poorly understood or perceived as lacking transparency (Szczepanski et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Demartini et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMoreover, FTN can exert an indirect influence by diminishing perceived environmental or nutritional benefits or by increasing perceived risks related to product safety, naturalness, or wholesomeness (G\u0026uuml;nden et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e; Yaşa \u0026Ouml;zelt\u0026uuml;rkay et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR74\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on these theoretical and empirical insights, the following hypotheses are proposed:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 4\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e(H4).\u003c/b\u003e Food Technology Neophobia has a significant negative effect on the intention to consume insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ea (H4a).\u003c/b\u003e Food Technology Neophobia has a significant negative effect on the perception of benefits associated with insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eb (H4b).\u003c/b\u003e Food Technology Neophobia has a significant positive effect on the perceived risk associated with the consumption of insect-based proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.6. Mediation of Perceived Benefits and Perceived Risks\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe effect of psychological barriers such as FN and FTN on the intention to consume insect-based proteins may be moderated by consumers\u0026rsquo; perceptions of the associated benefits and risks. The literature suggests that the negative impact of FN and FTN on acceptance can be mitigated when individuals recognize meaningful advantages in terms of sustainability, health, or animal welfare (Sheng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevious studies have shown that individuals with high levels of neophobia tend to evaluate new or processed foods more negatively, not only because of their novelty but also due to a lower perception of benefits and a higher perception of risks compared to less neophobic consumers (Martins et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). This phenomenon can be explained by a selective cognitive bias: people who are more neophobic\u0026mdash;or more sensitive to disgust\u0026mdash;tend to focus on negative or threatening information while neglecting the positive aspects of the food (Sogari et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; Sogari et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the case of edible insects, this effect becomes particularly salient. Individuals with high FN or FTN may overlook potential environmental or nutritional benefits and instead focus on aspects perceived as risky, such as hygiene, safety, or naturalness. In this sense, perceived benefits and perceived risks function as mediators between psychological barriers and consumption intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on these theoretical considerations, the following mediation hypotheses are proposed:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ea (H5a).\u003c/b\u003e Perceived benefits negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Neophobia and consumption intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eb (H5b).\u003c/b\u003e Perceived benefits negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Technology Neophobia and consumption intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ea (H6a).\u003c/b\u003e Perceived risks negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Neophobia and consumption intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eb (H6b).\u003c/b\u003e Perceived risks negatively and significantly mediate the relationship between Food Technology Neophobia and consumption intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccordingly, the conceptual framework of this study is illustrated in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.1 Data Collection\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData were collected through a structured online questionnaire developed using Google Forms. The survey was distributed via multiple social media platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Telegram), selected for their ability to reach a heterogeneous audience in terms of age, lifestyle, and level of interest in food-related topics (Cascone et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025a\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire was administered anonymously, ensuring the confidentiality of responses and compliance with current data protection regulations (EU Regulation No. 2016/679). All participants provided informed consent before accessing the survey, which included an introductory statement outlining the study objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data collection took place between March and July 2025 and resulted in a total of 415 fully completed questionnaires. Inclusion criteria required participants to be at least 18 years old, reside in Italy, and engage in sports activities on a regular basis. The target group consisted of individuals potentially interested in consuming protein-based products, including supplements and novel protein sources such as insect-derived proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.2 Questionnaire\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire was organized into two main sections, preceded by a brief introduction explaining the purpose of the research, the instructions for completion, and the assurance of response anonymity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first section collected information aimed at assessing the main psychological and cognitive factors associated with the intention to consume insect-based protein products. All items were measured using a five-point Likert scale (1 = \u0026ldquo;Strongly disagree,\u0026rdquo; 5 = \u0026ldquo;Strongly agree\u0026rdquo;) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpecifically:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived Benefits (PB)\u003c/b\u003e: assessed respondents\u0026rsquo; agreement with a set of statements regarding the potential environmental, nutritional, and social advantages of consuming insect-based proteins (e.g., pollution reduction, sustainability, health).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerceived Risk (PR)\u003c/b\u003e: included statements related to concerns about health, naturalness, and safety of insect-based food products.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFood Neophobia (FN)\u003c/b\u003e: evaluated respondents\u0026rsquo; general willingness to try new foods, adapting the original scale developed by Pliner and Hobden (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFood Technology Neophobia (FTN)\u003c/b\u003e: measured distrust toward new food technologies, following the framework proposed by Cox and Evans (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConsumption Intention (INT)\u003c/b\u003e: captured respondents\u0026rsquo; future propensity to consume insect-based protein products, based on both personal and environmental motivations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eItems used with main statistics\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eItem\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStatement\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean (score)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStandard Deviation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI will consider consuming insect-based protein.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.93\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI intend to spend more on insect-based protein than on conventional protein.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI plan to consume insect-based protein in the future because of its positive contribution to the environment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.84\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI want to consume insect-based protein soon.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.46\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI am constantly looking for new and different foods*.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI don't trust new foods.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.31\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI like foods from other countries*.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt dinner parties, I encourage people to try new foods.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI am afraid to eat things I have never tried before.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e6\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eI like to try new foods from all over the world*.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe benefits of new food technologies are often overestimated.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are many tasty foods available, so there is no need to use new food technologies.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNew food technologies diminish the natural quality of foods.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNew products obtained through food technologies can help people follow a balanced diet*.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInnovations in food technologies can help us produce food sustainably*.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.54\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInsects as a source of protein can prevent animal-borne diseases, increasing food security.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.83\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInsects may be more nutritious than conventional protein sources.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe insect production process is likely to be more environmentally friendly and hygienic than traditional agriculture.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsuming insects will bring significant benefits to me and my family.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.86\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.42\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLong-term consumption of insects as a source of protein is likely to have more negative effects on health than consumption of conventional proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.46\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInsects as a source of protein go against the laws of nature.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe thought of consuming insects as a source of protein arouses feelings of disgust and aversion.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInsects as a source of protein pose a high risk to me and my family.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003eNotes: FN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Food neophobia; FTN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Food Technology Neophobia; PB\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Perceived Benefits; PR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Perceived Risk; INT\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Intention; * = item reverse scored\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe second section collected socio-demographic and personal information, including age, gender, education level, region of residence, frequency of physical activity, and familiarity with protein-based foods. These data were used to describe the overall profile of the sample (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSample characteristics (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;415)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable Description\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbsolute frequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage Frequence (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e247\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e168\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e59.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18\u0026ndash;24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e127\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e149\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35\u0026ndash;44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e81\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e45\u0026ndash;54\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55 and above\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOccupation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorker\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e231\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStudent\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e162\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow many times a week do you exercise?\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u0026ndash;2 times\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e177\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;4 times\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e171\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;6 times\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e59\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery day\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow often do you consume protein supplements (protein powder, bars, etc.)?\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u0026ndash;2 times a week\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;4 times a week\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNever\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e122\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDaily\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRarely (less than once a week)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e115\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow much do you spend each month on protein supplements?\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLess than 20\u0026euro;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e256\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e61.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20\u0026ndash;50\u0026euro;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e131\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore than 50\u0026euro;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.3 Data analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo test the proposed hypotheses and explore the relationships among the theoretical constructs considered in the study, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed. This method, based on structural equation modeling, is particularly suitable for exploratory studies involving relatively small sample sizes and non-normally distributed data (Califano et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethodologically, the PLS-SEM framework consists of two main components: the measurement model and the structural model. The measurement model assesses the consistency between each latent construct and its observed indicators, while the structural model examines the strength and direction of the relationships among constructs (Cammarata et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the measurement model, internal reliability was evaluated using Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha and rho_A, both considered acceptable when exceeding the threshold of 0.70. Convergent validity was verified through the Average Variance Extracted (AVE), with a minimum acceptable value of 0.50. Only items with standardized loadings above 0.60 were retained in the model. Discriminant validity was assessed using the Fornell\u0026ndash;Larcker criterion, which requires that the square root of the AVE for each construct be greater than its correlations with other constructs in the model (Cascone et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025b\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinally, to evaluate the structural model, the path coefficients and their statistical significance were estimated. In addition to testing the direct relationships among variables, indirect effects were also examined to assess the mediating role of perceived benefits and perceived risks in the relationships between the two forms of neophobia and consumption intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.1 Descriptive statistics\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe final sample consisted of 415 respondents, with a predominance of women (59.5%) and a strong concentration in the 18\u0026ndash;34 age group (66.5%). More than half of the participants (55.7%) were employed, while 39% were students. Most respondents reported engaging in physical activity between one and four times per week. Approximately 70% of the participants consumed protein supplements at least occasionally, although more than 60% spent less than \u0026euro;20 per month on such products.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegarding the psychological variables, the mean values of the items generally fell within an intermediate range, indicating attitudes that were neither strongly negative nor fully favorable. Among the constructs, PB showed the highest mean scores, with several items exceeding a value of 3, suggesting some recognition of the advantages associated with insect-based proteins. Conversely, INT displayed relatively low values, ranging between 2.4 and 2.9, confirming a still limited willingness to use such products. PR also included items with mean scores above 3 (e.g., feelings of disgust), highlighting the persistence of emotional barriers among more reluctant consumers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.2 Measurement model\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe assessment of the measurement model was conducted to verify the reliability and validity of the latent constructs used in the study. As shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, all items exhibited standardized loadings above the recommended threshold of 0.60, except for item FN2 (λ\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.595), which was nonetheless retained for theoretical consistency with the original scale.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInternal reliability proved satisfactory for all constructs, with Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha values ranging from 0.833 (FTN) to 0.955 (INT). The rho_A coefficients also ranged between 0.837 (FTN) and 0.958 (INT), well above the recommended cut-off of 0.70, confirming the stability of the measurement scales. Convergent validity was supported, as all constructs displayed Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values exceeding the minimum acceptable level of 0.50, ranging from 0.597 (FN) to 0.880 (INT).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiscriminant validity was evaluated using the Fornell\u0026ndash;Larcker criterion. As shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, for each construct, the square root of the AVE was greater than its highest squared correlation with any other construct, confirming the distinct conceptual nature of the dimensions analyzed.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeasurement model of the PLS-SEM.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"11\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eItem / Construct\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.933\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.906\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.958\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.955\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.799\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.595\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.874\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.804\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.634\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003csub\u003e6\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.882\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.687\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.817\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.798\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.764\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.798\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.859\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.913\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.913\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.916\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.888\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.901\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.760\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.901\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCronbach α\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.955\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.861\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.833\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.922\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.885\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003erho_A\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.958\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.882\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.837\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.926\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.887\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAVE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.880\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.597\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.599\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.810\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.748\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"11\"\u003eNotes: FN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Food neophobia; FTN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Food Technology Neophobia; PB\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Perceived Benefits; PR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Perceived Risk; INT\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Intention\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiscriminant validity with the Fornell-Larcker criterion.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.337\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.216\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.493\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.608\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.328\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.275\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.151\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.289\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.440\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.122\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAVE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.880\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.597\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.599\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.810\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.748\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"10\"\u003eNotes: FN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Food neophobia; FTN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Food Technology Neophobia; PB\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Perceived Benefits; PR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Perceived Risk; INT\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Intention. AVE\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;average variance extracted. The square root of AVE (last row) for each latent construct should be higher than the other correlation values among the latent variables.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e4.3 Structural Model\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural model was assessed to test the proposed hypotheses and analyze the relationships among the constructs. Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e illustrates the full model, including both direct and mediated paths. As reported in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, all hypotheses were supported, for both direct and indirect effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the direct relationships, PR exerted a negative and significant effect on INT (H1: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.115, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01), whereas PB showed a strong positive effect (H2: β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.679, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Both mediating constructs were significantly influenced by FN and FTN. Specifically, FN reduced perceived benefits (H3a: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.404, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and increased perceived risk (H3b: β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.142, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). FTN followed a similar pattern, negatively affecting PB (H4a: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.240, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and positively influencing PR (H4b: β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.564, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Both FN and FTN also had significant negative effects on consumption intention (H3: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.211, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; H4: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.117, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), although with different magnitudes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to direct effects, a mediation analysis was performed to examine the mediating roles of Perceived Benefits (PB) and Perceived Risk (PR) in the relationships between FN, FTN, and INT. The results, presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, indicate that PB significantly and negatively mediates the relationship between FTN and INT (H5a: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.163, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), as well as between FN and INT (H5b: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.275, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Similarly, PR also demonstrated a significant, though weaker, mediating effect on the relationships between FTN and INT (H6a: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.065, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) and between FN and INT (H6b: β = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.016, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). These results suggest that perceived benefits represent the main channel through which food and technological neophobia influence consumption intention, while the role of perceived risk, though statistically significant, is comparatively smaller.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinally, the multicollinearity analysis reported in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e shows that all Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) values were below the critical threshold of 3.3, indicating the absence of multicollinearity issues among the predictors.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePath coefficients and hypothesis testing.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffect\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRelationships\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDecision\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDirect effects\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.115**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.679***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.211***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH3a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN \u0026rarr; PB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.404***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH3b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN \u0026rarr; PR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.142**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.117*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH4a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN \u0026rarr; PB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.240***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH4b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN \u0026rarr; PR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.564***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIndirect effects\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH5a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN \u0026rarr; PB \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.163***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH5b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN \u0026rarr; PB \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.275***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH6a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN \u0026rarr; PR \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.065**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH6b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN \u0026rarr; PR \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.016*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupported\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal effects\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.502***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN \u0026rarr; INT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.345***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.05, ** p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.01, and *** p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStructural model - Multicollinearity check (Variance Inflated Factors -VIFs)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eINT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.971\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.971\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.272\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFTN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.971\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.971\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.662\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePR\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.822\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eValues below 3.3 indicate an acceptable level of correlation among constructs.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"5. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe aim of this study was to examine the psychological and perceptual factors influencing Italian athletes\u0026rsquo; intention to consume insect-based protein supplements. The proposed PLS-SEM model confirmed the robustness of the hypothesized relationships, showing that perceived benefits and perceived risks significantly mediate the effects of food and technological neophobia on consumption intention. Beyond the statistical confirmation, the findings offer several interpretative insights that help clarify\u0026mdash;and in part revise\u0026mdash;previous conclusions in the existing literature.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe main finding concerns the dominant role of perceived benefits, which emerged as the strongest predictor of consumption intention. This result supports Hypothesis H1, indicating that perceived benefits exert a positive and significant influence on the intention to consume insect-based proteins. This partially challenges the common argument that the acceptance of novel foods is primarily hindered by negative emotions and disgust responses (Hartmann and Siegrist, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Kr\u0026ouml;ger et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Among athletes, motivation related to physical performance and personal health appears to partially overcome these emotional barriers, leading to a more functional and utilitarian evaluation of such products (Kuff et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Previous studies focused on general consumers tended to underestimate this positive role of perceived benefits (La Barbera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Moruzzo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). The present results suggest that when the product is perceived as consistent with personal nutritional and performance goals, perceived utility can neutralize initial reluctance.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis evidence reinforces the idea that usage motivation is a crucial determinant of innovative food acceptance (Hwang and Kim, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). For athletes, functional value\u0026mdash;such as protein intake, bioavailability, and sustainability\u0026mdash;acts as a stronger driver than mere environmental appeal. This finding suggests that communication strategies should be reformulated not only around ethical or ecological dimensions, but also around performance and physiological benefits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe perceived risk confirmed its negative influence on consumption intention, although with a lower intensity compared to previous studies (Siegrist and S\u0026uuml;tterlin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Boehm et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). This finding partially challenges the \u0026ldquo;risk-dominant\u0026rdquo; approach that characterizes much of the Western literature on entomophagy. The athletic target group appears to be more rational and better informed than the average consumer, likely due to greater familiarity with dietary supplements and higher trust in products that are regulated for sports use. Nevertheless, perceived risk does not disappear entirely: concerns related to naturalness and safety persist, especially for products perceived as \u0026ldquo;technological\u0026rdquo; or \u0026ldquo;artificial.\u0026rdquo; This suggests that transparent communication and hygienic\u0026ndash;sanitary certification remain key elements in building consumer trust (Pakseresht et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Khalil et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). This evidence supports Hypothesis H2, which predicted a negative effect of perceived risk on consumption intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth FN and FTN exert significant negative effects on consumption intention, although with different magnitudes. The former reflects cultural and identity-related resistance, consistent with findings from other Mediterranean contexts (Palmieri et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; Sogari et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Lombardi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). The latter reveals a more cognitive form of distrust toward production processes, translating into skepticism about the product\u0026rsquo;s perceived quality and purity. The coexistence of these two attitudes expands the understanding of consumer reluctance: it is not merely a rejection of food novelty, but also an epistemic skepticism toward technology applied to food (Cox and Evans, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e; Wendt and Weinrich, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study empirically confirms that both constructs operate through mediated pathways: they reduce perceived benefits and increase perceived risks, demonstrating that distrust toward innovation functions indirectly through cognitive evaluation. It is this selective perception\u0026mdash;downplaying advantages while amplifying risks\u0026mdash;that explains reluctance, in line with recent cognitive mediation models discussed in the literature (Valesi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e; Sheng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). These results support Hypotheses H3 and H4, and specifically sub-hypotheses H3a\u0026ndash;H4a and H3b\u0026ndash;H4b, confirming that both food and technological neophobia decrease perceived benefits while amplifying perceived risks.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a theoretical perspective, this model contributes to extending research on novel foods by integrating two dispositional constructs (FN and FTN) with two perceptual constructs (PB and PR) within a single mediated framework. The present analysis shifts the focus from normative and control factors toward the cognitive and affective processes that filter the relationship between attitudes and behavioral intention. This dual-path approach\u0026mdash;benefit-driven versus risk-driven\u0026mdash;offers a more nuanced interpretation of decision-making mechanisms, suggesting that the formation of intention is grounded in perceptual balance rather than in social norms or perceived control. The overall model also supports Hypotheses H5 and H6, confirming the dual mediation exerted by perceived benefits and perceived risks in the relationship between dispositional attitudes and behavioral intention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a practical standpoint, the findings indicate that marketing and communication strategies should prioritize messages grounded in functional evidence\u0026mdash;such as protein efficacy, safety, and traceability\u0026mdash;rather than relying solely on generic appeals to sustainability. For sports supplement producers, a gradual introduction of \u0026ldquo;invisible\u0026rdquo; insect forms (e.g., flours or protein powders) into familiar products may prove effective in reducing both visual and cognitive bias.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the institutional level, European regulation on novel foods should be complemented by targeted food education campaigns, particularly aimed at sensitive groups such as athletes and young adults, to clarify safety controls and environmental benefits. Such actions may not only foster the growth of the edible insect market but also contribute to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"6. Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigated the psychological mechanisms underlying Italian athletes\u0026rsquo; intention to consume insect-based protein supplements, highlighting the central role of perceived benefits and perceived risks as mediators between food and technological neophobia and behavioral intention. The findings indicate that perceived benefits serve as the main cognitive driver of acceptance, whereas perceived risks act as a secondary yet persistent deterrent. The integration of both mediation pathways into a single model represents a theoretical advancement, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic interplay between dispositional predispositions and cognitive evaluations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a theoretical standpoint, this research contributes to redefining the analysis of novel food acceptance within the sports domain, showing that functional motivation can mitigate neophobic resistance. On a practical level, the results suggest that communication and product design strategies emphasizing tangible and performance-related benefits may be more effective than those solely focused on ethical or environmental appeals. Collaborations with gyms, nutritionists, and credible testimonials could further strengthen consumer trust and reduce perceived risk.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, this study presents some limitations. Although the sample size was adequate, it was limited to the Italian context and to the sports segment, which may constrain the generalizability of the findings. Moreover, the cross-sectional nature of the data does not allow for causal inference over time. Self-reported measures may also be affected by cognitive biases, such as social desirability or discrepancies between stated intentions and actual behavior.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture research should include longitudinal or experimental studies to observe how the communication of benefits influences consumption propensity over time. It would also be valuable to test the proposed model across international samples and among non-athlete populations, incorporating potential moderators such as education level, prior experience with innovative foods, and health orientation. Finally, integrating real behavioural measures, such as simulated purchasing choices or controlled sensory tests, would help bridge the gap between declared intention and actual behavior.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionList\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eAVE\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAverage Variance Extracted\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eEFSA\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEuropean Food Safety Authority\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eFN\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFood Neophobia\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eFTN\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFood Technology Neophobia\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eINT\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsumption Intention\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003ePB\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerceived Benefits\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003ePLS\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSEM\u0026ndash;Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003ePR\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerceived Risk\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eVIF\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariance Inflation Factor\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Approval\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cb\u003edeclaration\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-funded paper.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGC contributed to conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, and writing\u0026mdash;original draft preparation; ST was involved in data collection, data curation, and writing\u0026mdash;review and editing; GT contributed to supervision, project administration, and writing\u0026mdash;review and editing.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbro Z, Sibhatu KT, Fetene GM, Alemu MH, Tanga CM, Sevgan S, Kassie M (2025) Global review of consumer preferences and willingness to pay for edible insects and derived products. 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Foods 12(19):3654. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.3390/foods12193654\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.3390/foods12193654\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Insect-based protein, Food neophobia, Food technology neophobia, Perceived risk and benefit, Athlete consumers, Sustainable sports nutrition, PLS-SEM","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7923986/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7923986/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study explores the psychological determinants shaping athletes\u0026rsquo; intention to consume insect-based protein supplements, an emerging segment in sustainable sports nutrition. Although edible insects are increasingly promoted as an alternative protein source, Western consumers remain hesitant due to cultural and perceptual barriers. Focusing on physically active Italian consumers, the study investigates how food neophobia (FN) and food technology neophobia (FTN) influence behavioral intention through the mediating roles of perceived benefits (PB) and perceived risks (PR). Data were collected through an online survey administered to 415 regular gym users and amateur athletes and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test both direct and mediated relationships among constructs. Results indicate that perceived benefits significantly and positively influence consumption intention, whereas perceived risks act as a secondary but negative predictor. Both FN and FTN reduce PB and increase PR, confirming their indirect negative impact through cognitive mediation. Benefits related to performance, sustainability, and nutritional value emerge as the main drivers of acceptance among athletes. Overall, this research contributes to the growing literature on novel food acceptance by integrating FN, FTN, and the dual mediation of PB and PR within a single model. The findings provide actionable insights for marketers, nutritionists, and policymakers seeking to promote sustainable protein innovations.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Beyond Disgust: Understanding Athletes’acceptance of Insect- Based Protein Supplements Through Food and Technology Neophobia in Italy","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-06 12:53:17","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7923986/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"3ede0f2d-d2a8-4235-95b8-275c51637449","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 6th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-10T08:54:31+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-06 12:53:17","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7923986","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7923986","identity":"rs-7923986","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}