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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
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Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
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Adolescents' eating behaviour in general and in the peer context: testing the prototype-willingness model
Birte Dohnke1, Amina Steinhilber, Tanja Fuchs
1a Department of Educational Psychology and Health Psychology , University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd , Schwäbisch Gmünd , Germany.
Psychology & Health
|October 14, 2014
Summary
The prototype-willingness model (PWM) helps understand adolescent eating behaviors, particularly how willingness and prototype perception influence healthy snack choices in social settings.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Behavioral Science
- Nutritional Psychology
Background:
- Adolescent eating behaviors are complex and influenced by social factors.
- The prototype-willingness model (PWM) offers a framework to understand health-related intentions and behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the prototype-willingness model (PWM) for general and peer-contextual eating behaviors in adolescents.
- To examine the role of social-reactive processes in adolescents' eating patterns.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 356 adolescents (mean age 12.61 years).
- Assessed PWM variables for healthy/unhealthy eating at baseline.
- Measured eating behavior (general pattern, peer snack consumption) four weeks later using self-report and behavioral observation.
- Employed structural equation modeling to analyze data.
Main Results:
- The PWM was largely supported for the general eating pattern index, with intention, willingness, and prototype perception showing direct effects.
- Significant differences were observed between healthy and unhealthy eating patterns.
- Willingness directly predicted healthy snack consumption in a peer context, even when controlling for hunger.
Conclusions:
- The PWM is a valuable tool for predicting and understanding adolescent eating behavior.
- Social-reactive factors like willingness and prototype perception are key determinants and potential targets for health promotion interventions.
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