Undermining of nutrition and exercise decisions: experiencing negative social influence

The objective of this research was to assess social undermining (negative interpersonal influence) on health behaviors in a large sample of Internet users.

This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design with an online survey that yielded quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 6,923 individuals received invitations and 1,270 participants completed the survey (18.3% response rate). Respondents completing at least 1 qualitative question were retained for analysis (n=1,158). The sample had more females (75.9%) than males (24.1%) and an average age of 42.9 years (SD±12.4).

Participants described experiences and perceptions of undermining. Content analysis was used to identify themes, and responses were coded after establishing intercoder reliability (κ=.92). Coded responses were correlated with gender, body mass index, and satisfaction with weight.

Many respondents reported that they were affected by undermining. The most common sources of undermining were family and significant others. Individuals satisfied with their current weight were more likely to resist undermining. Many suggested undermining might result from jealousy or others' guilt over their own decisions.

Undermining of healthy behaviors is an important issue for public health researchers and practitioners as it pertains to patient counseling and the development of strategies for resisting undermining.