Abstract
Objective: In schools, perceived norms of classmates facilitate but can also inhibit unhealthy food intake in children and adolescents. However, the role of actual class behaviors and attitudes is less established. Thus, the present study examined classmates' actual eating behavior and food preferences in relation to actual food intake. In addition, it tested whether these normative effects are facilitated by corresponding individual and class food preferences or a positive social self-concept.Methods: The food preferences, social self-concept, and unhealthy snacking frequency of 734 Finnish, 829 German, and 555 Romanian children and adolescents (aged 8–19) from 127 school-classes were assessed.Results: Multilevel analysis at individual and class level showed that classmates shared similar snacking habits (14.7% variance). Moreover, the unhealthy food preference of a school-class was associated with its collective snacking [, p < 0.001, PRV = 0.32). This effect was facilitated by individual, unhealthy food preferences [, p < 0.001, PRV = 0.57] and a positive social self-concept [, p = 0.015, PRV = 0.12].Conclusions: Actual class norms are related to children's and adolescents' eating, but their impact depends on individual differences in preferences and social self-concept.
Highlights
In the exploration of eating behavior, social norms have been one focus of attention, for adolescents (e.g., Stead et al, 2011; McEachan et al, 2011)
The unhealthy food preference of a school-class was associated with its collective snacking [χ2(1) = 54.67, p < 0.001, PRV = 0.32). This effect was facilitated by individual, unhealthy food preferences [χ2(1) = 16.72, p < 0.001, PRV = 0.57] and a positive social self-concept [χ2(1) = 5.91, p = 0.015, PRV = 0.12]
Actual class norms are related to children’s and adolescents’ eating, but their impact depends on individual differences in preferences and social self-concept
Summary
In the exploration of eating behavior, social norms have been one focus of attention, for adolescents (e.g., Stead et al, 2011; McEachan et al, 2011). Snacking in the interplay between the individual and the class the available literature, Stok et al (under review) concluded that the majority of studies demonstrate a significant positive association between perceived norms and aspects of adolescent eating behavior. These findings, do not clarify whether the perception of norms reflects what a norm group does or thinks (Rimal and Real, 2003; Stok et al under review). This special type of eating behavior appears especially suitable for studying eating norms in a classroom environment as it is quite frequent in schools (Grenard et al, 2013) and meaningful for a school class (Terry et al, 2000; see Wouters et al, 2010)
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