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Updated: May 7, 2026

Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
Social norms and dietary behaviors among young adults
Jennifer E Pelletier1, Dan J Graham, Melissa N Laska
1University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA. pelle137@umn.edu.
Objective:
To examine associations between young adults' dietary behaviors and perceived social norms for healthy eating.
Methods:
Cross-sectional survey of 1000 diverse college students. Associations between perceived behaviors of family, friends, and significant other and participants' dietary behaviors were examined using t-tests and linear regression.
Results:
Young adults consumed more fast food if they perceived that their family, friends, or significant other did so (p < .003). Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was associated with perceived consumption by family and friends (p < .035). Fruit and vegetable consumption and dinner preparation were associated with perceived behavior of friends only (p < .001).
Conclusions:
Young adults' dietary behaviors appear to reflect their perceptions of normative behavior, particularly among friends.
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