Eating behavior in children and adolescents from four European countries : socioeconomic self-regulatory and peer group influences

© North American Journal of Psychology Mar 2016This study aimed to investigate the associations between individual (socio-economic status (SES), and selfregulation strategies), and interpersonal factors (friend's social influence) and eating behaviours, among children and adolescents. A total of 2,764 adolescents, aged 10 to 17, from four countries (The Netherlands, the UK, Poland, and Portugal) completed a questionnaire about the use of self-regulation strategies and social influence. Both environmental and individual factors were found to be associated with eating awareness/care. The most strongly associated variables were friend's social influence, SES, and one of the self-regulation strategies (actions towards goals). Socio-economic status had a moderate to low effect on eating behaviour and eating behaviour awareness/care in European children and adolescents, controlling for self-regulation strategies and interpersonal factors (friend's social influence). The findings highlight the relevance of educational actions promoting selfregulation, namely in schools, as a way to promote healthy eating behaviour. This is especially important in countries facing economic recession, where poverty can act as a vulnerability factor with regard to food consumption.