What do adolescents think that their peers are eating at school?

Abstract

Background: Perceived peer norms (perceptions of the behaviors of peers) play an important role in adolescents’ eating behavior. Also, some past studies suggest that perceived peer norms may be more important in determining eating behavior than actual norms (actual peers’ behaviors). In this study, we sought to examine 1) to what extent perceived peer norms do reflect actual norms among an important risk group for unhealthy (eating) behavior), i.e., adolescents attending lower levels of education, and 2) how both perceived and actual norms are associated with purchase and consumption of fruit, bread products, snacks, and sugar-sweetened drinks. Methods: A cross-sectional survey among 598 (pre-)vocational students aged 12 to 22 assessed the frequency by which fruit, bread products, snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks were brought from home, purchased in-school, and in the vicinity of school. Also the daily consumption of these products was assessed. Participants were asked to answer these questions for their own behaviors as well as to estimate their peers’ behaviors. Findings: Adolescents overestimated the purchase and consumption of most healthy and unhealthy products, with largest overestimations for snacks and sodas bought in school canteens. Perceived peer norm was associated with each of the own behaviors of (pre)vocational students during school-time and generally more so than actual norms. Importantly, however, for food purchased in school canteens, the actual norm was significantly associated with the own behaviors independent from perceived norms. Discussion: The results suggest interventions should address misperceptions of purchase and consumption of snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks of (pre)vocational students.