Leu Jodie, Tay Zoey, van Dam Rob M, Müller-Riemenschneider Falk, Lean Michael Ej, Nikolaou Charoula Konstantia, Rebello Salome A
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, 117549Singapore, Singapore.
Public Health Nutr. 2022 Aug;25(8):2137-2155. doi: 10.1017/S1368980022000398. Epub 2022 Feb 21.
To understand young adults' perceptions of online and real-life social influences on their food and activity choices.
A qualitative study involving 7 focus groups. Thematic analysis using both deductive and inductive techniques were performed.
A polytechnic and a university in Singapore.
A total of 46 full-time students, 19-24 years of age.
Participants revealed that social media meets multiple needs, contributing to its ubiquitous use and facilitating content spread between social networks. Food-related content shared on social media were mostly commercial posts, marketing foods and eateries showcasing price promotions, emphasising sensory properties of foods or creating narratives that activated trends. Subsequently, real-life social activities frequently revolve around marketed foods that were not necessarily healthy. In contrast, physical activity posts were rarely being followed up in real life. Portrayals describing a toxic gym culture could contribute to negative perceptions of peers' physical activity posts and a disinclination towards sharing such posts. Participants expressed that close, supportive social networks in real life strongly influenced initiating and maintaining healthy lifestyles. However, in a society that highly values academic achievements, participants prioritised studying and socialising over healthy eating and physical activity.
Overall, our findings reveal that virtual and real-life social influences have complex interactions affecting Asian young adults' behavioural choices and should be considered when designing interventions for this group. Regulations related to the digital marketing of unhealthy food, and improving the availability, accessibility and affordability of healthier food options, particularly in the foodservice sector, would be of value to consider.
了解年轻人对网络和现实社交对其食物及活动选择的影响的看法。
一项包含7个焦点小组的定性研究。采用演绎和归纳技术进行主题分析。
新加坡的一所理工学院和一所大学。
共46名19至24岁的全日制学生。
参与者表示，社交媒体满足了多种需求，这促使其被广泛使用，并促进了内容在社交网络之间的传播。社交媒体上分享的与食物相关的内容大多是商业帖子，推销食品和餐馆，展示价格促销，强调食物的感官特性或创造引发潮流的故事。随后，现实生活中的社交活动经常围绕那些不一定健康的促销食品展开。相比之下，体育活动帖子在现实生活中很少得到跟进。描述有害健身文化的描绘可能会导致对同龄人体育活动帖子产生负面看法，并使人不愿分享此类帖子。参与者表示，现实生活中亲密、支持性的社交网络对启动和维持健康生活方式有很大影响。然而，在一个高度重视学业成绩的社会中，参与者将学习和社交置于健康饮食和体育活动之上。
总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，虚拟和现实社交影响存在复杂的相互作用，影响着亚洲年轻人的行为选择，在为该群体设计干预措施时应予以考虑。考虑与不健康食品数字营销相关的法规，以及提高更健康食品选择的可获得性、可及性和可承受性，特别是在食品服务部门，将是有价值的。
