Abstract
The influence of parents and peers on adolescent body hics. composition, nutrient intake, and food preference was the focus of this study. Major influences on the adolescent are important to uncover, so that positive health behaviors can be taught in the most effective way. Once the behaviors are learned, they must become adopted as part of a lifestyle that will improve the health outcomes of the future adult population. Rural Texas adolescents ranging in age from 14-18 were the study subjects used in the analyses of this thesis. Participants completed anthropometric measurements, a 24-hour dietary recall, food frequency questionnaire, 2-day diet record, and a cognitive questionnaire. Pearson's product moment and linear regression analyses were used to examine relationships between sources of influence and nutrient intake, body composition, and food preferences. This is among the first studies, if not the first study, to indicate that the influence of parent on nutrient intake of adolescents is more important than that of peers. More specifically, fathers have a positive influence on their daughters' nutrient intake, while mothers have a on adolescents' body composition. Ethnic and fast foods were indicated by this population to be among their favorite foods. A clear pattern was not established between these preferences and peer or parent influences, which may indicate the presence of a more significant source of influence not looked at in this research. The result of this study are useful because they imply that nutrition education efforts in the area of food choice need to be focused on the parents in order for the message to get across to the adolescent. Education regarding diet, body image, and health needs to address the strong peer influence on body research might include a longitudinal study to determine the age at which these interventions would be most effective. Additionally, research should also be done to uncover other sources of influence on the food preferences of this age group.
Lazarou, Emily Elizabeth (1998). Peer and parental influences on adolescent body composition, nutrient intake, and food preference. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1998 -THESIS -L39.