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Cited by 177Nutrition, Health and Food BehaviorBehavioral Health and InterventionsMedia Influence and Health

The potential of peer social norms to shape food intake in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review of effects and moderators

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Stok, F. Marijn, de Vet, Emely, de Ridder, Denise T.D., de Wit, John B.F.·2016·Health Psychology Review
DOI 10.1080/17437199.2016.1155161
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Abstract

This systematic review aims to assess the role that peer social norms play in shaping young people's food intake, focusing on the important questions of for whom and when peer social norms are related to how much young people eat. Thirty-three eligible studies were reviewed (17 correlational, 16 experimental). All but one correlational studies found significant associations between norms and food intake. All experimental studies found effects of norm manipulations on food intake, and some evidence was found of behavioural spillover effects of norms. Four moderators were distilled from our literature synthesis that stipulate for whom and when peer social norms are related to food intake: identification with the norm referent group and eating-related habit strength were found to moderate the effects of social norms on food intake; forceful injunctive norms were found not to be related to food intake; and the influence of norms seemed restricted to types of foods typically consumed in the presence of peers. The findings from this literature synthesis have important implications for research, and moderators are discussed in light of psychological theory. Where applicable, potential implications for the development of social norm-based interventions to improve young people's food intake are also highlighted.

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  • Peer influence has strong associations with both smoking initiation and continuation and food intake across various age groups, especially among adolescents and young adults.

    “Peer influence significantly has strong associations with both smoking initiation and continuation and food intake across various age groups, especially among adolescents and young adults.”

    From Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review (2026) · cites this paper as [26]

    The Results report significant associations between peer social norms and young people's food intake in 16 of 17 correlational studies; the Discussion reports evidence of a relation in 32 of 33 studies overall. The review covers ages 10–25 and reports similar food-intake findings across that range, but the passages do not support the claim about smoking initiation or continuation, or extend the food-intake finding to older age groups. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In collectivistic cultures, individuals are more likely to adopt smoking and food intake patterns prevalent within their peer groups.

    “Previous studies in the literature also indicates that peer behavior is especially noticed in collectivistic cultures and in such societies, individuals are more likely to adopt smoking and food intake pattern that are prevalent within their peer groups [25, 26].”

    From Smoking and its impact on eating behavior: A review (2026) · cites this paper as [26]

    The Results (page unavailable) report an association between peer social norms and young people's food intake in 16 of 17 correlational studies. The cited paper does not establish that this association is stronger in collectivistic cultures or address adoption of peer smoking patterns. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Stok, F. M., de Vet, E., de Ridder, D. T. D., & de Wit, J. B. F.
Affiliations
Utrecht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Stok, F. Marijn
ORCID
Stok, F. Marijn
Venue
Health Psychology Review
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2016-03-22
Volume
10
Issue
3
Pages
326-340
ISSN
  • 1743-7199 (ISSN-L)
  • 1743-7202
DOI
10.1080/17437199.2016.1155161
OpenAlex
W2310134829
Cited by
177
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 3 · 2015: 1
FWCI
1.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Health Psychology Review (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • KOPS (University of Konstanz) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (Health-F2-2008-223488)
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO 400-04-434)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
Keywords
dietary intake, adolescents, young adults, eating behaviour, injunctive norms, behavioural spillover, social norms interventions
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Eating, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Peer Group, Health Behavior, Young Adult, Social Norms

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