Manuscript Number : SHISRRJ258317

Exploring the Role of Peer Influence on nutritional Habits : A Case Study of youth at Amity University

Authors(2) :-Md. Rehan Ansari, Dr. Rama Srivastava

This study explores the role of peer influence on the nutritional habits of university students, focusing on a case study of youth at Amity University. The objective was to examine how peers affect food choices, meal-sharing behaviors, and attitudes toward health and nutrition. A quantitative research design was employed, using a structured questionnaire distributed to a diverse sample of 100 students across various age groups, genders, educational levels, and living situations. The findings reveal that peer influence plays a significant role in shaping dietary behaviors, with a large majority of respondents reporting that their eating habits are affected by their social circles. Key aspects of peer influence include frequent meal sharing, discussions about nutrition, and encouragement to try new dietary trends. Social modeling emerged as a powerful mechanism through which students adopt healthier food practices observed in their peer groups. The study highlights several positive outcomes, including increased nutritional awareness and the promotion of healthier eating habits driven by peer motivation and group norms. Based on these insights, the research recommends the implementation of peer-led nutrition education programs, integration of nutrition topics into university curricula, and enhancement of campus food environments to support informed and health-conscious choices. These strategies can harness the power of peer dynamics to foster long-term improvements in student well-being.

Authors and Affiliations

Md. Rehan Ansari
Student, Master of Social Work, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Dr. Rama Srivastava
Professor, Amity Institute of Social Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Peer Influence, Nutritional Habits, University Students, Food Choices, Dietary Behaviors, Health Education, Amity University, Social Dynamics, Healthy Eating.

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. *Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes*, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
  • Ball, K., Jeffery, R. W., Abbott, G., McNaughton, S. A., & Crawford, D. (2010). Is healthy behavior contagious? Associations of social norms with physical activity and healthy eating. *International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity*, 7, 86. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-7-86
  • Bandura, A. (1977). *Social learning theory*. Prentice-Hall.
  • Banna, J. C., Buchthal, O. V., Delormier, T., Creed-Kanashiro, H. M., & Penny, M. E. (2015). Influences on eating: A qualitative study of adolescents in a periurban area in Lima, Peru. *BMC Public Health*, 16, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2744-4
  • Bowker, J. C. (2012). Peers and obesity during childhood and adolescence: A review of the empirical and theoretical literature. *Developmental Review*, 32(4), 423–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2012.09.001
  • Cluskey, M., & Grobe, D. (2009). College weight gain and behavior transitions: Male and female differences. *Journal of the American Dietetic Association*, 109(2), 325–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.10.045
  • Cruwys, T., Bevelander, K. E., & Hermans, R. C. J. (2015). Social modeling of eating: A review of when and why social influence affects food intake and choice. *Appetite*, 86, 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.08.035
  • Deliens, T., Clarys, P., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., &Deforche, B. (2014). Determinants of eating behavior in university students: A qualitative study using focus group discussions. *BMC Public Health*, 14, 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-53
  • Ekubagewargies, D. T., Lee, P., Vincze, L., & Ahmed, F. (2024). How do individual and environmental factors influence adolescent dietary behaviour in Ethiopia? A qualitative exploration from schools in Addis Ababa. *Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior*. [Forthcoming]
  • Fitzgerald, A., Heary, C., Kelly, C., Nixon, E., & Shevlin, M. (2013). Self-efficacy for healthy eating and peer support for unhealthy eating are associated with adolescents’ food intake patterns. *Appetite*, 63, 48–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2012.12.011
  • Herman, C. P., Roth, D. A., &Polivy, J. (2003). Effects of the presence of others on food intake: A normative interpretation. *Psychological Bulletin*, 129(6), 873–886. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.873
  • Herman, C. P., &Polivy, J. (2008). External cues in the control of food intake in humans: The sensory-normative distinction. *Physiology & Behavior*, 94(5), 722–728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.04.014
  • Higgs, S. (2015). Social norms and their influence on eating behaviours. *Appetite*, 86, 38–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.10.021
  • Lally, P., Bartle, N., & Wardle, J. (2011). Social norms and diet in adolescents. *Appetite*, 57(3), 717–720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2011.08.013
  • Levitsky, D. A., Halbmaier, C. A., &Mrdjenovic, G. (2004). The freshman weight gain: A model for the study of the epidemic of obesity. *International Journal of Obesity*, 28(11), 1435–1442. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802776
  • Mikolajczyk, R. T., Ansari, W. E., & Maxwell, A. E. (2009). Food consumption frequency and perceived stress and depressive symptoms among students in three European countries. *Nutrition Journal*, 8, 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-8-31
  • Papier, K., Ahmed, F., Lee, P., & Wiseman, J. (2015). Stress and dietary behaviour among first-year university students in Australia: Sex differences. *Nutrition*, 31(2), 324–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2014.08.004
  • Perkins, H. W., & Berkowitz, A. D. (1986). Perceiving the community norms of alcohol use among students: Some research implications for campus alcohol education programming. *International Journal of the Addictions*, 21(9–10), 961–976. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826088609077249
  • Robinson, E., Thomas, J., Aveyard, P., & Higgs, S. (2013). What everyone else is eating: The role of social norms in dietary decisions. *Appetite*, 65, 83–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.01.017
  • Salvy, S. J., De La Haye, K., Bowker, J. C., & Hermans, R. C. J. (2009). Influence of peers and friends on children’s and adolescents’ eating and activity behaviors. *Physiology & Behavior*, 106(3), 369–378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.01.022
  • Sharps, M. A., Higgs, S., & Blissett, J. (2020). The effect of social media influencers on children’s food intake. *Appetite*, 146, 104501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2019.104501
  • Stok, F. M., de Vet, E., de Ridder, D. T. D., & de Wit, J. B. F. (2016). The potential of peer social norms to shape food intake in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review of effects and moderators. *Health Psychology Review*, 10(3), 326–340. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2016.1155161
  • Tam, R., Yassa, B., Parker, H., O’Connor, H., Allman-Farinelli, M., & Peeters, A. (2017). University students’ on-campus food purchasing behaviors, preferences, and opinions on food availability. *Nutrition*, 43–44, 63–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2017.05.011
  • Xu, J. (2022). The roles of family and school members in influencing children’s eating behaviours in China: A narrative review. *Children*, 9(3), 315. https://doi.org/10.3390/children903031

Publication Details

Published in : Volume 8 | Issue 3 | May-June 2025
Date of Publication : 2025-05-20
License:  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Page(s) : 76-91
Manuscript Number : SHISRRJ258317
Publisher : Shauryam Research Institute

ISSN : 2581-6306

Cite This Article :

Md. Rehan Ansari, Dr. Rama Srivastava, "Exploring the Role of Peer Influence on nutritional Habits : A Case Study of youth at Amity University", Shodhshauryam, International Scientific Refereed Research Journal (SHISRRJ), ISSN : 2581-6306, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp.76-91, May-June.2025
URL : https://shisrrj.com/SHISRRJ258317

Article Preview