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A social network-based intervention stimulating peer influence on children's self-reported water consumption: A
Crystal R Smit1, Rebecca N H de Leeuw1, Kirsten E Bevelander1
1Communication Science, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Appetite
|April 18, 2016
Summary
Peer influence interventions can increase children's water intake and decrease sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. This study used influential children to promote healthy hydration habits over eight weeks, showing positive behavioral changes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Child Nutrition
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern, often linked to poor dietary habits, including high sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption.
- Promoting adequate water intake is crucial for children's health and well-being.
- Social network dynamics and peer influence are powerful factors in shaping adolescent behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a social network-based intervention leveraging peer influence on children's water consumption.
- To assess the intervention's impact on sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and intentions to drink more water.
- To examine changes in consumption patterns before and after an eight-week intervention period.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 210 children (aged ~10.75 years) assigned to an intervention or control group.
- In the intervention group, influential peers were trained to promote water consumption among classmates.
- Self-report measures assessed water intake, SSB consumption, and intentions at baseline and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- A significant multivariate interaction effect between condition and time was observed.
- Children in the intervention group showed a significant increase in water consumption and a decrease in SSB consumption compared to the control group.
- While intentions to drink water did not change in the intervention group, they decreased in the control group.
Conclusions:
- Social network-based interventions utilizing peer influence show promise for positively altering children's hydration behaviors.
- This approach effectively increased water intake and reduced unhealthy beverage consumption in school-aged children.
- Harnessing peer dynamics offers a viable strategy for public health initiatives aimed at improving childhood nutrition.
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