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Bankole E, Harris N, Rutherford S, Wiseman N. Nigerian adolescents' exposure to fast food marketing via Instagram. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2405. [PMID: 39232697 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18604-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the promotion of fast food to lower-income adolescents on Instagram with the specific aims of (i) identifying the marketing strategies used by fast food brands on Instagram to promote fast food to Nigerian adolescents and (ii) examining the influence of these strategies on user engagement. DESIGN A content analysis of posts from a 90-day period of the Instagram accounts of five fast-food brands in Nigeria was conducted. Overall, 576 posts were analysed, using a codebook developed based on the relevant literature, to identify adolescent-targeted strategies. User engagement was measured by number of likes each post received. RESULTS The observed brands frequently utilised adolescent-targeted marketing strategies, with the most popular strategies being emotional appeal, 'teen language' and product appeal. The results of Mann-Whitney U tests revealed significant associations between the use of these promotional strategies and user engagement. Adolescent-aimed strategies like product appeal and competitions resulted in higher user engagement with fast food promotional content. CONCLUSION Fast food companies heavily target lower income adolescents through the use of Instagram. This raises health concerns related to the consumption of unhealthy food that arises from regular advertising in that demographic. Further, this exposure increases ad interactions that could cause adolescents to view fast foods more positively. Overall, findings indicate the need for actions aiming to limit and reduce the effect of adolescents' exposure to fast food marketing on social media, to target the features of social media platforms which affords users the ability to interact with fast food advertisements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Bankole
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
| | - Neil Harris
- Higher Degree Research (Health), Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Shannon Rutherford
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicola Wiseman
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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2
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Sharps MA, Raghoebar S, Coulthard H. Social norms and young adults' self-reported meat and plant-based meal intake: Findings from two online cross-sectional studies. Appetite 2024; 199:107503. [PMID: 38763296 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Plant-based eating is beneficial for human and planetary health. It is important to identify factors which may encourage people to reduce meat, and increase plant-based meal intake. Perceived social norms are associated with meat and plant-based meal intake in adults, however, less is known about the relationship between perceived social norms and young adults' own self-reported meat and plant-based eating in general, and in different social contexts. Across two online studies we examined this. In Study 1 (n = 217 young adults, aged 18-25 years, mean age = 19.50 years, SD = 1.37 years, mean BMI = 24.21, SD = 5.45, 91% cisfemale, 92.0% omnivores), perceived descriptive (the perceived behaviour of others) and injunctive (the perceived approval of others) norms were measured in general. In study 2 (n = 151 young adults aged 18-25 years, mean age = 19.62 years, SD = 1.50 years, mean BMI = 24.32, SD = 4.99, 88.8% cisfemale, 71.1% omnivore), perceived descriptive and injunctive norms were examined in a variety of social contexts. In Study 1, perceived descriptive norms about friends were associated with self-reported meat, and descriptive norms about peers and friends, and injunctive norms about friends were positively associated with self-reported plant-based meal intake. In Study 2, descriptive norms about friends were associated with self-reported meat intake in fast-food restaurants and at friends' houses, and injunctive norms about friends were associated with meat intake in restaurants. There were no other significant associations between either type of social norm and meat or plant-based meal intake. We provide the first evidence that peers and friends may be relevant for plant-based meal intake, and only friends may be relevant for meat intake. Further research is needed to examine people's actual food intake, and in longitudinal studies to rule out reverse causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Sharps
- De Montfort University, School for Applied Social Sciences, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK.
| | - S Raghoebar
- Consumption & Healthy Lifestyles Group, Wageningen University & Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706KN, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - H Coulthard
- De Montfort University, School for Applied Social Sciences, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK
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3
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Bhutto MY, Rūtelionė A, Šeinauskienė B, Ertz M. Exploring factors of e-waste recycling intention: The case of generation Y. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287435. [PMID: 37856490 PMCID: PMC10586668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The seriousness of the e-waste crisis stems from the fact that consumers do not participate much in ensuring the proper disposal of electronic materials. In this context, millennials are the largest segment of consumers of electronic products who are not yet motivated to get sustainably rid of them. However, to inspire consumers to recycle e-waste, it is necessary to investigate consumers' behavioral intentions towards e-waste thoroughly. This study integrates the theory of planned behavior, social influence theory, and personality traits to examine how consumers gauge their choice to recycle e-waste. Data were collected from randomly surveying 300 Lithuanians through a structured questionnaire. Using the PLS-SEM approach, results show that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly influence consumers' e-waste recycling intention. Regarding personality traits, only openness to experience significantly affects consumers' e-waste recycling intention. In contrast, other traits such as agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism have a non-significant influence on consumers' e-waste recycling intention. In addition, normative and informational social influence affects consumers' e-waste recycling intention. The current study advances our understanding of e-waste recycling behavior by examining how TPB, personality factors, and social influence theory influence intentions. It provides valuable insights for policymakers and marketers on understanding and encouraging the e-waste behavior of Lithuanian Y-generation consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aušra Rūtelionė
- School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Beata Šeinauskienė
- School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Myriam Ertz
- Labo NFC, Department of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Quebec in Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Canada
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Varela P, De Rosso S, Ferreira Moura A, Galler M, Philippe K, Pickard A, Rageliene T, Sick J, van Nee R, Almli VL, Ares G, Grønhøj A, Spinelli S, van Kleef E. Bringing down barriers to children's healthy eating: a critical review of opportunities, within a complex food system. Nutr Res Rev 2023:1-21. [PMID: 37746804 DOI: 10.1017/s0954422423000203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
This narrative review revises the scientific evidence of recent years on healthy eating in children and adolescents, making sense of promising avenues of action, from a food system perspective. A conceptual framework is provided to better understand how eating habits of children and adolescents are shaped to identify key multisectoral approaches that should be implemented to promote healthier diets. The following influencing factors are discussed: individual factors (physiological and psychological factors, food preferences and food literacy competencies), factors within the personal and socio-cultural food environments, external food environments, and the supply chain. In each section, the main barriers to healthy eating are briefly discussed focussing on how to overcome them. Finally, a discussion with recommendations of actions is provided, anchored in scientific knowledge, and transferable to the general public, industry, and policymakers. We highlight that multidisciplinary approaches are not enough, a systems approach, with a truly holistic view, is needed. Apart from introducing systemic changes, a variety of interventions can be implemented at different levels to foster healthier diets in children through fostering healthier and more sustainable food environments, facilitating pleasurable sensory experiences, increasing their food literacy, and enhancing their agency by empowering them to make better food related decisions. Acknowledging children as unique individuals is required, through interpersonal interactions, as well as their role in their environments. Actions should aim to enable children and adolescents as active participants within sustainable food systems, to support healthier dietary behaviours that can be sustained throughout life, impacting health at a societal level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sofia De Rosso
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | | | | | - Kaat Philippe
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | | | | | - Julia Sick
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roselinde van Nee
- Wageningen University, Marketing & Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gastón Ares
- Sensometrics and Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Sara Spinelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ellen van Kleef
- Wageningen University, Marketing & Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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5
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Gulema H, Demissie M, Worku A, Assebe Yadeta T, Berhane Y. Influence of engaging female caregivers in households with adolescent girls on adopting equitable family eating practices: a quasi-experimental study. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16099. [PMID: 37750079 PMCID: PMC10518164 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In patriarchal societies, female caregivers decide on food allocation within a family based on prevailing gender and age norms, which may lead to inequality that does not favor young adolescent girls. This study evaluated the effect of a community-based social norm intervention involving female caregivers in West Hararghe, Ethiopia. The intervention was engaging female caregivers along with other adult influential community members to deliberate and act on food allocation social norms in a process referred to as Social Analysis and Action (SAA). Method We used data from a large quasi-experimental study to compare family eating practices between those who participated in the Social Analyses and Action intervention and those who did not. The respondents were female caregivers in households with young adolescent girls (ages 13 and 14 years). The study's outcome was the practice of family eating together from the same dish. The difference in difference (DID) analysis with the mixed effect logistic regression model was used to examine the effect of the intervention. Result The results showed improved family eating practices in both groups, but the improvement was greater in the intervention group. The DID analysis showed an 11.99 percentage points greater improvement in the intervention arm than in the control arm. The mixed-effect regression produced an adjusted odds ratio of 2.08 (95% CI [1.06-4.09]) after controlling selected covariates, p-value 0.033. Conclusions The involvement of influential adult community members significantly improves the family practice of eating together in households where adolescent girls are present in our study. The intervention has great potential to minimize household food allocation inequalities and thus improve the nutritional status of young adolescents. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in different social norm contexts to formulate policy and guidelines for scale-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Gulema
- Department of Global Health and Health Policy, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Meaza Demissie
- Department of Global Health and Health Policy, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Alemayehu Worku
- School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Yemane Berhane
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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6
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Victoria-Montesinos D, Jiménez-López E, Mesas AE, López-Bueno R, Garrido-Miguel M, Gutiérrez-Espinoza H, Smith L, López-Gil JF. Are family meals and social eating behaviour associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in adolescents? The EHDLA study. Clin Nutr 2023; 42:505-510. [PMID: 36857959 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the association between family meals and social eating behaviour with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms among Spanish adolescents. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study with data obtained from a representative sample of adolescents aged 12-17 years from Valle de Ricote, Murcia, Spain. Emotional symptomatology was evaluated with the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. The frequency of family meals and social eating behaviour were self-reported. RESULTS Each additional point in social eating behaviour decreased the probability of having a higher number of depressive (OR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.92), anxiety (OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.97) and stress (OR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.99) symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Higher social eating behaviour was associated with lower probabilities of higher number of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Estela Jiménez-López
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain
| | - Arthur Eumann Mesas
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain; Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Rubén López-Bueno
- Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Miriam Garrido-Miguel
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain; Faculty of Nursing, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | | | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health, Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - José Francisco López-Gil
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain; One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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7
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van den Broek N, de la Haye K, Veldhuis L, Verhagen M, Larsen JK, Vink JM, Burk WJ. Examining food intake similarities in adolescent best friend dyads using longitudinal Actor-Partner Interdependence Models. Appetite 2022; 175:106072. [PMID: 35500723 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about how adolescent best friends may affect each other's food intake. This study explored whether friendship selection and socialization mechanisms explained potential food intake similarities in adolescent reciprocated best friend dyads. We also tested whether socialization processes were moderated by dyad member's relative zBMI. Members of 145 same-gender best friendship dyads (56% female; Mage = 12.79; SDage = 0.61) reported on their intake of food obtained from home and from outside the home at the beginning and the end of the school year through food frequency questionnaires. Longitudinal Actor-Partner Interdependence Models results showed no indication of selection or socialization, and very limited evidence for the moderation of socialization processes by relative zBMI. These findings indicate that focusing on adolescent reciprocated best friends in dietary interventions may not be valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina van den Broek
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Kayla de la Haye
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Maaike Verhagen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Junilla K Larsen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline M Vink
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - William J Burk
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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8
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Beyond emotion: online takeaway food consumption is associated with emotional overeating among Chinese college students. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:781-790. [PMID: 34052988 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01224-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Online takeaway food has become very popular in China. However, the potential effects of online takeaway food consumption on eating behaviours among individuals during the transition stage from adolescence to young adulthood have not yet been assessed. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the effects of takeaway food consumption on emotional overeating behaviour among college students. METHODS Data were collected from 1450 college students from six universities in Anhui, China. The frequency of emotional overeating during the past 4 weeks was assessed by the emotional overeating questionnaire (EOQ). Data on the frequency of online takeaway food consumption and other potential risk factors at the individual, interpersonal, physical environment, and macro-system levels were assessed by questionnaire. Multilevel linear regression analyses were employed to explore the association between takeaway food consumption and emotional overeating behaviour. RESULTS Compared to those who consumed online takeaway food less than 1 day per week, participants who consumed this food 4-5 days per week and participants who consumed this food 6-7 days per week had significantly higher EOQ scores (β = 0.14, p < 0.05 and β = 0.67, p < 0.001, respectively). More frequent consumption was associated with higher EOQ scores (p for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSION A higher frequency of takeaway food consumption was associated with an elevated risk of emotional overeating among college students independent of personal emotional status and other potential confounders at the interpersonal, physical environmental and macro-system levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V; cross-sectional descriptive study.
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9
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Sharps MA, Coulthard H, Salvy SJ, Ryan S, Fallon V. The influence of experimental confederate peers on children's food intake: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Appetite 2021; 169:105863. [PMID: 34920051 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Confederates influence eating behaviour. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been conducted on this topic, however, the majority have examined adults, or a combination of adults and children, therefore, an up-to-date meta-analysis is needed to examine the impact of confederate peers on children's food intake. We systematically reviewed and meta-analysed the influence of confederate peers on children's food intake in research using present and remote-confederates. Six publications summarising findings from seven studies were included in this review. One publication was excluded from the meta-analysis because it was not possible to extract the required data. The meta-analysis showed that children were influenced by confederate peers; eating more when exposed to a high-intake compared to a no or low-intake confederate. Larger effects were observed when children were exposed to a remote-than a present-confederate, and for studies using healthy snacks compared to high fat high sugar (HFHS) snacks. No difference in effect size was observed when children were exposed to a high-vs. low-intake confederate compared to a high-vs. no-intake confederate. In the narrative synthesis, confederate intake influenced children's eating behaviour 24-h later, and possible moderators and a potential mechanism underlying the influence of confederates were identified. Caution is needed when interpreting the results, as the sub-groups were not compared statistically due to high heterogeneity, and a small number of studies were included in this review. Furthermore, all studies using the present-confederate design examined HFHS snack intake, therefore, it is unclear whether observed differences in effect sizes between present- and remote-confederates may be due to confederate or food type. Research is needed to further examine the influence of confederate peers on children's food intake and to examine mechanisms and moderators.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Sharps
- De Montfort University, School of Applied Social Sciences, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK.
| | - H Coulthard
- De Montfort University, School of Applied Social Sciences, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK
| | - S J Salvy
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - S Ryan
- University of Derby, School of Psychology, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK
| | - V Fallon
- University of Liverpool, Department of Psychology, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
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Mecheva MDV, Rieger M, Sparrow R, Prafiantini E, Agustina R. Snacks, nudges and asymmetric peer influence: Evidence from food choice experiments with children in Indonesia. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2021; 79:102508. [PMID: 34333202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many children in low- and middle-income countries are growing up during a rapid nutrition transition. Experimental evidence on food choice in developing countries is scarce, while it is unclear to what extent evidence from high-income countries can be generalized. Children participated in a snack choice experiment. We expose some children to emoji labels encouraging healthy snacks, while others observe healthy or unhealthy snacking by peers. While emoji labels moderately promote healthy snacking, the adverse effect of observing a peer eating the unhealthy snack is very large. The effect associated with observing a healthy peer is insignificant. Additionally, cross-randomized blocks of children watched a nutrition video to study the interaction of information provision and nudging. The video independently improves healthy choices but does not aid the emoji nudge and cannot counter the strong negative peer effect. We compare our findings to studies conducted in developed countries and discuss policy implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthias Rieger
- The International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Robert Sparrow
- The International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Development Economics Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
| | - Erfi Prafiantini
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia - Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia; Human Nutrition Research Center, Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute (HNRC-IMERI), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
| | - Rina Agustina
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia - Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia; Human Nutrition Research Center, Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute (HNRC-IMERI), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
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11
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Sharps MA, Fallon V, Ryan S, Coulthard H. The role of perceived descriptive and injunctive norms on the self-reported frequency of meat and plant-based meal intake in UK-based adults. Appetite 2021; 167:105615. [PMID: 34332002 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Perceived social norms refer to beliefs that people hold about what other people do (descriptive norms) and approve of (injunctive norms), and are associated with food intake. However, less is known about whether perceived social norms are associated with meat and plant-based meal intake. Using a cross-sectional survey design 136 participants (aged 19-66 years, mean age = 39.63, SD = 12.85 years, mean BMI = 25.77, SD = 5.30, 80.9 % female, 77.9 % omnivores, 22.1 % flexitarians) answered questions about how frequently they consumed meat and plant-based meals, and how frequently they perceived people in their social environment to consume (perceived descriptive norms), and approve of consuming (perceived injunctive norms) meat and plant-based meals. Perceived descriptive and injunctive norms were positively associated with participants' frequency of meat intake: participants ate meat more frequently when they perceived their significant other to frequently eat meat (descriptive norm), and when they perceived their significant other and friends to approve of (injunctive norm) frequently eating meat. Perceived descriptive norms were positively associated, but injunctive norms were negatively associated with participants' frequency of plant-based meal intake: participants ate plant-based meals more frequently when they perceived their extended family, friends, and significant other to frequently eat plant-based meals. However, participants ate plant-based meals more frequently when they perceived their extended family to approve of less frequent plant-based meal intake. These results suggest that different social groups may be important for meat and plant-based meal intake, with significant others and friends appearing to be important reference points for both food types. Further research examining the contexts in which the different social groups influence eating behaviour would be of value.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Sharps
- Health and Life Sciences, School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK.
| | - V Fallon
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK
| | - S Ryan
- School of Law and Social Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, DE1 1DZ, UK
| | - H Coulthard
- Health and Life Sciences, School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK
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12
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Cobo-Reyes R, Lacomba JA, Lagos F, Zenker C, Reuben E. Early Adolescents' Food Selection After Evaluating the Healthiness of Remote Peers' Food Choices. Child Dev 2021; 92:e1198-e1210. [PMID: 34263459 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates whether asking early adolescents to evaluate the food choices of remote peers improves their own food selection. Participants were students from fifth (N = 219, Mage = 9.30 years) and sixth grades (N = 248, Mage = 10.28 years) of varying nationalities living in the United Arab Emirates (race and ethnicity were not collected). Students saw peers' healthy or unhealthy food choices before picking their own food. In some conditions, students also critically evaluated the healthiness of the peers' choices. Evaluation of peer choices led to healthier decisions (d = .53) to the point that it offsets the negative impact of observing unhealthy peer choices. This effect is larger for sixth graders compared to fifth graders.
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13
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Chawner LR, Hetherington MM. Utilising an integrated approach to developing liking for and consumption of vegetables in children. Physiol Behav 2021; 238:113493. [PMID: 34116053 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Children eat too few vegetables and this is attributed to disliked flavours and texture as well as low energy density. Vegetables confer selective health benefits over other foods and so children are encouraged to eat them. Parents and caregivers face a challenge in incorporating vegetables into their child's habitual diet. However, liking and intake may be increased through different forms of learning. Children learn about vegetables across development from exposure to some vegetable flavours in utero, through breastmilk, complementary feeding and transitioning to family diets. Infants aged between 5 and 7 m are most amenable to accepting vegetables. However, a range of biological, social, environmental and individual factors may act independently and in tandem to reduce the appeal of eating vegetables. By applying aspects of learning theory, including social learning, liking and intake of vegetables can be increased. We propose taking an integrated and individualised approach to child feeding in order to achieve optimal learning in the early years. Simple techniques such as repeated exposure, modelling, social praise and creating social norms for eating vegetables can contribute to positive feeding experiences which in turn, contributes to increased acceptance of vegetables. However, there is a mismatch between experimental studies and the ways that children eat vegetables in real world settings. Therefore, current knowledge of the best strategies to increase vegetable liking and intake gained from experimental studies must be adapted and integrated for application to home and care settings, while responding to individual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Chawner
- School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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14
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Chung A, Vieira D, Donley T, Tan N, Jean-Louis G, Kiely Gouley K, Seixas A. Adolescent Peer Influence on Eating Behaviors via Social Media: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e19697. [PMID: 34081018 PMCID: PMC8212626 DOI: 10.2196/19697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influence of social media among adolescent peer groups can be a powerful change agent. OBJECTIVE Our scoping review aimed to elucidate the ways in which social media use among adolescent peers influences eating behaviors. METHODS A scoping review of the literature of articles published from journal inception to 2019 was performed by searching PubMed (ie, MEDLINE), Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and other databases. The review was conducted in three steps: (1) identification of the research question and clarification of criteria using the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) framework; (2) selection of articles from the literature using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines; and (3) charting and summarizing information from selected articles. PubMed's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and Embase's Emtree subject headings were reviewed along with specific keywords to construct a comprehensive search strategy. Subject headings and keywords were based on adolescent age groups, social media platforms, and eating behaviors. After screening 1387 peer-reviewed articles, 37 articles were assessed for eligibility. Participant age, gender, study location, social media channels utilized, user volume, and content themes related to findings were extracted from the articles. RESULTS Six articles met the final inclusion criteria. A final sample size of 1225 adolescents (aged 10 to 19 years) from the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Brazil, and Australia were included in controlled and qualitative studies. Instagram and Facebook were among the most popular social media platforms that influenced healthful eating behaviors (ie, fruit and vegetable intake) as well as unhealthful eating behaviors related to fast food advertising. Online forums served as accessible channels for eating disorder relapse prevention among youth. Social media influence converged around four central themes: (1) visual appeal, (2) content dissemination, (3) socialized digital connections, and (4) adolescent marketer influencers. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent peer influence in social media environments spans the spectrum of healthy eating (ie, pathological) to eating disorders (ie, nonpathological). Strategic network-driven approaches should be considered for engaging adolescents in the promotion of positive dietary behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Chung
- Center for Early Childhood Health and Development, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dorice Vieira
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tiffany Donley
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nicholas Tan
- SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | | | - Kathleen Kiely Gouley
- Center for Early Childhood Health and Development, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Azizi Seixas
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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15
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Wang EST, Chu YH. How Social Norms Affect Consumer Intention to Purchase Certified Functional Foods: The Mediating Role of Perceived Effectiveness and Attitude. Foods 2021; 10:foods10061151. [PMID: 34063761 PMCID: PMC8223796 DOI: 10.3390/foods10061151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Certified functional foods (CFFs) are approved by relevant authorities because of demonstrable efficacy. However, social norms affect consumer perceptions regarding CFFs, and their attitudes toward CFFs remain unclear. Drawing on social influence theory, this study explored how social norms (i.e., descriptive and injunctive) affect consumer perceptions and willingness to purchase CFFs. Consumers of CFFs in Taiwan were invited to participate in this study, and 398 valid questionnaires were received. Collected data were assessed through structural equation modeling. The results revealed that descriptive and injunctive norms exerted a positive effect on perceptions of the effectiveness of CFFs. However, although injunctive norms exerted a positive effect on consumer attitude, the effect of descriptive norms on attitude was not significant. Furthermore, consumer perceptions on the effectiveness of CFFs affected their attitude toward CFFs, consequently increasing their intention to purchase CFFs. This study contributes to the literature by providing insights into the relationship between social norms, perceived effectiveness, and attitudes regarding CFFs. The results of this study provide directions to CFF marketers for developing marketing strategies and establishing marketing communication strategies from the perspective of social influence.
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Kim EB, Cheon BK, Chen C. Do drinking buddies matter for young children?: Preschoolers’ conformity to remote peers’ beverage choices. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2020.100886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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17
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Is Adolescents' Food Intake Associated with Exposure to the Food Intake of Their Mothers and Best Friends? Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12030786. [PMID: 32192005 PMCID: PMC7146583 DOI: 10.3390/nu12030786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Both mothers’ and best friends’ food intake are associated with adolescents’ food intake, but they are rarely investigated simultaneously. In this study, we tested the associations of mothers’ and best friends’ food intake with adolescents’ intake of unhealthy and healthy food, obtained from home and from outside the home, and the moderating role of adolescents’ exposure to their food intake. Participants included 667 adolescents (53% female, Mage = 12.9) and 396 of their mothers. Within this adolescent sample, 378 best friend dyads were identified. All participants completed food frequency questionnaires. Mothers separately reported on their food intake in the presence and absence of their child, and adolescents indicated how often they ate and drank together with their best friend during school breaks. Mothers’, but not best friends’, food intake was positively related to adolescents’ intake of unhealthy and healthy food obtained from home and healthy food obtained from outside the home. Exposure to mothers’ healthy food intake magnified mother-child similarities in healthy food intake. Exposure to best friends’ intake of unhealthy food moderated adolescent-friend similarities in unhealthy food intake. Future work should assess the mechanisms that underlie these similarities, and should investigate these associations over time and in later developmental periods.
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18
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McGale LS, Smits T, Halford JCG, Harrold JA, Boyland EJ. The influence of front-of-pack portion size images on children's serving and intake of cereal. Pediatr Obes 2020; 15:e12583. [PMID: 31747486 PMCID: PMC7003796 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consumption of large portions of energy-dense foods promotes weight gain in children. Breakfast cereal boxes often show portions much larger than the recommended serving size. OBJECTIVE This experimental study investigated whether front-of-package portion size depictions influence children's self-served portions and consumption. METHODS In a between-subjects design, 41 children aged 7-11 years (M= 9.0 ± 1.5y) served themselves breakfast cereal from a box, the front of which depicted either a recommended serving size of cereal (30g) or a larger, more typical front-of-pack portion (90g). Cereal served and consumed and total caloric intake (including milk) was recorded. Height and weight, demographic information and measures of children's food responsiveness and enjoyment of food were collected. RESULTS MANOVA revealed that children exposed to the larger portion size served themselves (+7g, 37%) and consumed (+6g, 63%) significantly more cereal than those exposed to the smaller portion. Despite this, overall caloric intake (milk included) did not differ between conditions, and no other measured variables (hunger, BMI) significantly affected the outcomes. CONCLUSION This study provides novel evidence of the influence portion-size depictions on food packaging have on children's eating behaviour. This offers possible avenues for intervention and policy change; however, more research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim Smits
- Institute for Media StudiesKatholieke Universiteit LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | - Emma Jane Boyland
- Department of Psychological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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19
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Baranowski T, Thompson D. Descriptive Normative Nutrition Messages to Maximize Effect in a Videogame: Narrative Review. Games Health J 2020; 9:237-254. [PMID: 31905035 DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2019.0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Messages containing descriptive norms have been manipulated and tested for effects on dietary intake in a number of studies. The effects have been mostly small or nonexistent. This narrative review analyzed the structural elements of the nutrition messages most likely related to effectiveness. Elements examined included the following: source, similarity of source to the participant, reference group, identification with or evaluative significance of the reference group, delivery, salience, background, tailoring, gain-loss framing, and whether an assessment of the group norm was conducted before designing the descriptive norm message. Most studies incorporated few of the reviewed structural elements, and message manipulations appeared weak. Controlled, systematic studies are needed to examine the effect of the structural elements, singly and in combination, on behavior and its mediators. Videogames are designed to be delivered in the same way to players; therefore, they offer a controlled environment for extensively and systematically manipulating structural elements of messages and examining the resulting behavioral effects. How this might be accomplished was described. Experimental research was identified as being necessary to delineate the individual and combined element effects, thereby contributing to the body of literature on videogame design and effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Baranowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Debbe Thompson
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, Texas
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20
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The 'Voice' of Key Stakeholders in a School Food and Drink Intervention in Two Secondary Schools in NE England: Findings from a Feasibility Study. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11112746. [PMID: 31726753 PMCID: PMC6893517 DOI: 10.3390/nu11112746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Overweight/obesity affects one-third of UK 11-15-year olds. Individually focussed interventions alone have limited effectiveness. Food choice architecture approaches increase the visibility and convenience of foods to facilitate the choice of 'healthier' foods and reduce 'unhealthy' foods. This qualitative component of a School Food Architecture (SFA) study aimed to determine the perceptions of pupils and staff in relation to school food provision and their perceptions of the intervention. Methods: Pupil focus groups and staff one-to-one interviews. Topic guides were developed from literature and in consultation with a Young Person's Advisory Group. Thematic analysis was applied. Results: Focus group (n = 4) themes included: dining hall practices, determinants of choice, and aspects of health. Interview themes (n = 8) included: catering practices, health awareness, education, and knowledge of intervention. Pupils liked to purchase hand-held, quick to purchase foods potentially limiting the access to fruits and vegetables. Pupils were aware of 'healthier' food choices but would choose other options if available. Conclusions: Schools provide a daily school meal for large numbers of pupils, with time and dining environment constraints. Pupils consume 35-40% of their daily energy intake at school, therefore interventions enabling healthier eating in school are essential, including making healthier choices readily available and accessible.
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Hang H, Davies I, Schüring J. Children's conformity to social norms to eat healthy: A developmental perspective. Soc Sci Med 2019; 244:112666. [PMID: 31722276 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Previous studies suggest injunctive norms (prompts of what people ought to do) are stronger predictors of healthy eating intentions, whereas descriptive norms (prompts of what people are doing) are stronger predictors of healthy eating behaviors. However, previous research provides little insight into why different norms influence children's health intentions and behaviors differently. In addition, no research has explored developmental differences in children's conformity to, or rejection of, different types of social normative influence. Thus, this paper adopts a developmental perspective to understand why children conform differently to descriptive and injunctive norm messaging on healthy eating. METHOD An experiment was done with 405 children in Germany aged 7 to 16. The research design was a 4 (social norms: descriptive vs. injunctive peer vs. injunctive authority vs. control) × 2 (developmental stage: middle childhood vs. adolescence) between-subject design. Children's healthy eating intentions and behaviors were collected as key dependent variables. RESULTS and conclusions: The experimental results suggest that children mainly use a descriptive norm as an information shortcut to behaving "appropriately". This should have a stronger impact on younger children than older ones, although both young and old children consider it easier to understand than an injunctive norm. The experimental results further suggest that an injunctive norm mainly influences children via activation of a motive for maintaining a positive self-image in public, rather than one of affiliation. These results are very important for social research on health, because they can explain why different social norms influence health intentions and behaviors differently. In addition, our finding that injunctive norm conformity is mainly used for impression management purposes can reconcile existing contradictory results on the impact of social norms on children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiming Hang
- School of Management, University of Bath, BA 2 7AY, UK.
| | - Iain Davies
- School of Management, University of Bath, BA 2 7AY, UK
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22
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Effects of social exclusion and maternal rejection on Children's high-caloric food consumption. Appetite 2019; 145:104494. [PMID: 31634518 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Research has shown that the quality of interpersonal relationships plays an important role in influencing childhood obesity-risk behavior. However, studies conducted so far have focused mostly on self-report data. But they rarely control for the effect of experimentally-induced social rejection or perceived maternal rejection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the quality of the maternal relationships as well as experimentally-induced social rejection on children's motivation to consume high-caloric food. Eighty children (8-12 years of age) and their mothers participated in an experimental study. Participants were randomly assigned to a social inclusion (acceptance) or exclusion (rejection) condition in a computer-based ball-toss game (Cyberball). After completing the Cyberball game, children were presented with high-caloric food and were evaluated on the amount of the food they consumed. Participants also completed a self-report questionnaire assessing their perceptions of their mothers' acceptance-rejection. Further, mothers' Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured, and a semi-structured interview was conducted to assess the tendency of mothers to regulate their child's stress with food. Results showed that the consumption of high-caloric food was directly influenced by the children's perceptions of maternal acceptance-rejection, and by the experience of brief, experimentally-induced social exclusion (rejection). Additionally, children's consumption of high-caloric food was related to their mothers' use of food to help regulate children's distress, and by the children's own BMI. The results document the importance of affective-relational experiences in the development of childhood obesity. The results also highlight the apparent fact that regardless of individual and family characteristics, the experience of even short-term social rejection can activate obesity-risk behaviors which deplete children's self-regulatory mechanisms, thereby resulting in more consumption of high-caloric food.
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23
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Sharps MA, Hetherington MM, Blundell-Birtill P, Rolls BJ, Evans CE. The effectiveness of a social media intervention for reducing portion sizes in young adults and adolescents. Digit Health 2019; 5:2055207619878076. [PMID: 31579525 PMCID: PMC6757490 DOI: 10.1177/2055207619878076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Adolescents and young adults select larger portions of energy-dense food than recommended. The majority of young people have a social media profile, and peer influence on social media may moderate the size of portions selected. Methods Two pilot interventions examined whether exposure to images of peers’ portions of high-energy-dense (HED) snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on social media (Instagram) would influence reported desired portions selected on a survey. Confederate peers posted ‘their’ portions of HED snacks and SSBs on Instagram. At baseline and intervention end participants completed surveys that assessed desired portion sizes. Results In intervention 1, undergraduate students (n = 20, mean age=19.0 years, SD=0.65) participated in a two-week intervention in a within-subjects design. Participants reported smaller desired portions of HED snacks and SSBs following the intervention, and smaller desired portions of HED snacks for their peers. In intervention 2, adolescents (n = 44, mean age = 14.4 years, SD = 1.06) participated in a four-week intervention (n = 23) or control condition (n = 21) in a between-subjects design. Intervention 2 did not influence adolescents to reduce their reported desired portion sizes of HED snacks or SSBs relative to control. Conclusions These preliminary studies demonstrated that social media is a feasible way to communicate with young people. However, while the intervention influenced young adults’ reported desired portions and social norms regarding their peers’ portions, no significant impact on desired reported portion sizes was found for HED snacks and SSBs in adolescents. Desired portion sizes of some foods and beverages may be resistant to change via a social media intervention in this age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxine A Sharps
- School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, UK
| | | | | | - Barbara J Rolls
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
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24
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Kim EB, Chen C, Cheon BK. Preschoolers exhibit conformity to computer-simulated food portion selection behaviors of remote peers. Appetite 2019; 139:164-171. [PMID: 31055012 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Children have been found to rely on others for food choice and food intake cues, but it is unclear whether a similar type of social modeling occurs for food portion selection, especially among young children. Given that portion size predicts energy intake, it is important to understand the role of social influence on portion selection behavior early in life. The present study aimed to determine preschoolers' conformity to food portion selection patterns of remote peers using a computerized Portion Selection Task and examined the role of parents' feeding styles in children's susceptibility to others' food portion choices. Seventy-five 3-6 year old Singaporean children (M = 62 ± 0.72 months) were asked to make food portion selections of high-energy-density (ED) foods and low-ED foods both independently and after having viewed remote peers' portion selections of the same foods. In the unhealthy peers condition, children saw peers choose large portions of high-ED foods and small portions of low-ED foods, while in the healthy peers condition, children saw peers select large portions of low-ED foods and small portions of high-ED foods. Parents were surveyed about their child feeding practices. Results revealed that participants exhibited conformity to the portion sizes of remote peers for both high-ED and low-ED foods under the healthy peers condition, but only marginally for high-ED foods under the unhealthy peers condition. Parents' higher restriction of foods for child's health was marginally associated with lower conformity to peers' portion selections of unhealthy foods and higher conformity to peers' portion selections of healthy foods. This study provides support for social modeling of food portion selection among young children, but the extent of social modeling may be contingent on characteristics of the food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B Kim
- School of Social Ecology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA; Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 117599, Singapore.
| | - Chuansheng Chen
- School of Social Ecology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Bobby K Cheon
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 117599, Singapore; School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637332, Singapore
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Polman MAA, Larsen JK, Lodder GMA, Hirata E, IJsseldijk S, van den Broek N, Burk WJ. Effects of a non-eating confederate on food intake do not persist for everyone over time when people are left alone: An exploratory study. Eat Behav 2018; 30:104-108. [PMID: 29990650 DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An extensive body of research has established that eating with others can have inhibitory effects on food intake. Recent findings suggest that these effects may (partly) persist over time when the eating norm is no longer enforced. To gain more insights into the persistence of effects of a live non-eating stranger, the main aim of the present study is to explore how food intake of young women changes as a result of previous exposure to a non-eating confederate (i.e., adult stranger). To address this aim, an experiment was conducted in which 64 young women, aged 17 to 26 (M = 19.81, SD = 1.95), were given access to chocolates at two different time points. First, participants were all paired with a non-eating stranger (i.e., confederate). Afterwards, half of the participants remained with the non-eating stranger (i.e., together-together condition), while the other half was left alone with the food (i.e., together-alone condition). Results indicated that participants who were left alone increased their intake on average, although raw data revealed interesting individual differences. In contrast, most of the participants who remained with the non-eating stranger did not increase intake. Participants in an ad hoc added control condition (i.e., no exposure to a non-eating confederate; alone-alone condition; n = 26) showed food intake similar to participants in the together-alone condition after they were left alone. Our findings suggest that if intake behaviors are too extreme and divergent from the desire to eat as much as possible, women may, on average, only adhere to these behaviors in the presence of others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes A A Polman
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Junilla K Larsen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerine M A Lodder
- Department of Sociology, Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth Hirata
- Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
| | - Sophie IJsseldijk
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nina van den Broek
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - William J Burk
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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