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Published on: March 19, 2021
Social Media Use for Nutrition-Related Information and Dietary Behaviors
Emily Denniss1, Rebecca Lindberg2, Gavin Abbott2
1Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Objective:
Examine young adults' use of social media for nutrition-related information (SMNI), and its association with diet quality, restrained eating, and explore potential mediators.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Australians (aged 22-29 years) in 2023. The predictor variable was SMNI, mediators were nutrition knowledge, confusion, backlash, and social comparison, and outcomes were diet quality and dietary restraint. Mediation analysis was conducted using path analysis.
Results:
From 200 participants, 46.5% used SMNI, and this was positively associated with nutrition knowledge (β = 0.19, P = 0.005), which was positively associated with diet quality (β = 0.25, P < 0.001). The mediating pathway between SMNI and diet quality, via nutrition knowledge, had a positive indirect effect (0.05 [95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.09]). There was no association between SMNI and restrained eating.
Conclusions And Implications:
Almost half the participants used SMNI, which was associated with diet quality and mediated by nutrition knowledge. Social media may be useful for nutrition promotion for young adults.
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