The proof is in the eating: subjective peer norms are associated with adolescents’ eating behaviour
F Marijn Stok, Emely de Vet, John BF de Wit, Aleksandra Luszczynska, Magdalena Safron, Denise TD de Ridder
Source record
Source: Crossref
Published: Jun 18, 2014
DOI: 10.1017/s1368980014001268
Open original source ↗Source abstract
Abstract Objective To investigate associations of self-perceived eating-related peer norms (called ‘subjective peer norms’) with adolescents’ healthy eating intentions and intake of healthy and unhealthy food. Design Cross-sectional data were collected in a large international survey. Setting Two types of subjective peer norms were assessed: perceived peer encouragement of healthy eating and perceived peer discouragement of unhealthy eating. Outcome variables were healthy eating intentions, intake of healthy food (fruits and vegetables) and intake of unhealthy food (snacks and soft drinks). Subjects Over 2500 European (pre-)adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years participated. Results Subjective peer norms were associated with all three outcome variables. While both perceived encouragement of healthy eating and perceived discouragement of unhealthy eating were related to intentions, only peer encouragement of healthy eating was related to intakes of both healthy and unhealthy food. Conclusions Subjective peer norms play a role in adolescent eating behaviour and as such are an important target for health promotion. Addressing norms that encourage healthy eating may be more promising in changing behaviour than norms that discourage unhealthy eating.
Evidence graph
No public relationships recorded yet.
Integrity note: This page is a factual metadata record created by deterministic ingestion. It is not a claim that the work moves a mathematical frontier or has been independently verified.