FINDING THE LINK BETWEEN SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY AND DIETARY INTAKE AMONG RURAL ADOLESCENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND KENTUCKY

• Main Author: McDonald, Jordan Elizabeth
• Format: Others
• Published: UKnowledge 2017
• Subjects: social network; connectivity; companionship; cohesion; dietary outcomes; Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition; Early Childhood Education; Environmental Studies; Food Studies; Health and Physical Education
• Online Access: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/foodsci_etds/53; https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1056&context=foodsci_etds

Social networks play a significant role in adolescent decision making, specifically when it comes to dietary outcomes. This study, granted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), assessed the connectivity of these social networks and the impact they have on fruit and vegetable, added sugar and sugar sweetened beverage consumption. Additionally, the relationship between shopping companionship and dietary choices was studied. Positive and negative associations were found among adolescents who shop with parents or friends. It was also found that those adolescents with greater social network cohesion were found to have more negative dietary outcomes. Divulging further into the relationships within adolescent social networks may improve fruit and vegetable and decrease added sugar consumption within rural communities.