The results of a recent study show that feeling like we are part of a social group can influence the types of food we choose to eat, steering us towards healthier options. This could be important for the creation of campaigns and strategies aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits.
New research from Flinders University has revealed that feeling a sense of belonging to a social group can have a significant impact on our food choices, potentially nudging us towards healthier options.
“Social groups, such as one’s nationality or university, provide groupProfessor Eva Kemps, from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, explains that individuals with a shared social identity are more likely to be influenced in their behavior. When someone feels a strong sense of belonging to a group and considers their membership as an important aspect of their identity, they are more inclined to align their behavior with the perceived ‘norm’ of that group. This has been observed to have an impact on what we eat and the food choices we make, and could have implications for health campaigns and interventions aimed at promoting healthier behaviors.”Choosing healthier food options is crucial,” she explains.
Studies show that it is important to make healthier food choices, especially since 65% of Australians aged 15 and over are considered overweight or obese. Additionally, 92% of adults do not eat the recommended five to six daily servings of vegetables, and 49% do not consume the recommended two servings of fruit.
A diet that consists of unhealthy foods and lacks proper nutrition is a significant factor in the widespread occurrence of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, which are the leading causes of death globally.
The recent research aimed to determine if individuals are more inclined to opt for healthier food choices iIf they sense a connection to the same group or community as those advocating for healthy eating habits.
The study participants were college students, and their university affiliation was utilized as a representation of their valued group membership, indicating that they were either part of the same university group (in-group) or not (out-group).
Utilizing Facebook groups — a popular platform for university community pages — students either felt a closeness to, or detachment from, a group and were then presented with healthy and less healthy food options and evaluated on their decisions.” rnrnWhen individuals are exposed to social norms on Facebook, such as what others eat, they are more likely to be influenced by someone in the same group as them rather than by someone who is not. According to Professor Kemps, this is related to the concept of the ‘herd mentality.’ People are more likely to identify with and internalize the behaviors of someone who shares a common group interest or affiliation with them, which can result in changes in their own behavior. The study found that when people felt a sense of connection or belonging, they were more likely to be influenced in one way or another. This research builds on the increasing understanding of the impact of social norms on behavior.The study found that people’s behavior can be influenced by their group membership, especially when it comes to food choices. The results are encouraging, but more research is needed to fully understand how social influence affects behavior, particularly in the context of food and promoting healthier choices. The study showed that people are more likely to see the behavior of others in their group as a suitable guide. This means that witnessing group members making healthy choices or receiving positive feedback about healthy food can impact an individual’s choices.The study’s lead author, Juliana Gleaves, stated, “We anticipate that receiving a positive endorsement from social media influencers – and subsequently an increase in likes and comments - may result in better eating habits. We hope that our findings will lead to further research in this area and ultimately lead to the development of more effective communication and support materials for health campaigns and interventions that encourage healthier food choices in both social media and other settings.
