Social influences on eating and physical activity behaviours of urban, minority youths

Abstract

Objective Social relationships can impact youths’ eating and physical activity behaviours; however, the best strategies for intervening in the social environment are unknown. The objectives of the present study were to provide in-depth information on the social roles that youths’ parents and friends play related to eating and physical activity behaviours and to explore the impact of other social relationships on youths’ eating and physical activity behaviours. Design Convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Setting Low-income, African American, food desert neighbourhoods in Baltimore City, MD, USA. Subjects Data were collected from 297 youths (53 % female, 91 % African American, mean age 12·3 (SD 1·5) years) using structured questionnaires and combined with in-depth interviews from thirty-eight youths (42 % female, 97 % African American, mean age 11·4 (SD 1·5) years) and ten parents (80 % female, 50 % single heads of house, 100 % African American). Results Combined interpretation of the results found that parents and caregivers have multiple, dynamic roles influencing youths’ eating and physical activity behaviours, such as creating health-promoting rules, managing the home food environment and serving as a role model for physical activity. Other social relationships have specific, but limited roles. For example, friends served as partners for physical activity, aunts provided exposure to novel food experiences, and teachers and doctors provided information related to eating and physical activity. Conclusions Obesity prevention programmes should consider minority youths’ perceptions of social roles when designing interventions. Specifically, future research is needed to test the effectiveness of intervention strategies that enhance or expand the supportive roles played by social relationships.

More than Fast Food: Development of a Story Map to Compare Adolescent Perceptions and Observations of Their Food Environments and Related Food Behaviors

“…Although participants reported increased availability of healthier food items due to parental food acquisition and positive role modeling making it easier to eat healthier food items at home, some participants in Prong 2 noted that parents often provide negative role modeling by providing high-fat, high-sugar items in the home that are tempting, particularly when parents are consuming them frequently. These findings support previous research conducted by Anderson Steeves et al [54].…”

Describing Independent Eating Occasions among Low-Income Adolescents

“…A previous systematic review, for example, revealed racial/ethnic differences in fruit and vegetable intake and pointed to the need to consider various influences on intake when designing dietary interventions for low-income youth [37]. Another study in low-income African-American adolescents showed that specific social relationships have specific roles; for example, aunts provided exposure to novel food experiences [38]. In conducting future studies in this demographic, examination of all the contextual factors shaping adolescent eating will be important.…”

Ranking of meal preferences and interactions with demographic characteristics: a discrete choice experiment in young adults

“…younger and male [ 62 ], although there were no differences by weight status or education level. Moreover, insights from the qualitative data suggested that future DCEs in young adults should consider the role of social influences and cooking skills, which are known determinants of food choice [ 63 , 64 ].…”