The influence of social norms on anticipated snacking: An experimental study comparing different types of social norms

Previous studies have found that social norms affect eating behavior for different types of social norm measures and manipulations as well as different types of eating behavior. The current study investigated the effects of descriptive, injunctive, and liking norms on intentions to consume healthy snacks and anticipated snack choice, compared to a no-norm control condition. Moreover, we distinguished between descriptive norms that stress the frequency versus the quantity of food consumption. An experiment was conducted among 189 young adults. It was hypothesized that participants who received a descriptive quantity or frequency norm would intend to consume, and make an anticipated selection of, more low-calorie snacks than participants who received a no-norm control message. Due to inconsistency or lacking evidence regarding the effects of the other types of norms on eating behavior, no hypotheses were formulated for the injunctive and liking norm conditions. The hypothesis was partly confirmed. Descriptive quantity and frequency norms did not result in a stronger intention to consume healthy snacks in the upcoming week, but they did result in lower-calorie snack choices when people were asked to select three snacks that they planned to eat on the following day. No other differences between the conditions were found. These findings show that emphasizing both how much and how often most other people consume healthy foods affects anticipated healthy food choices. This can provide health professionals more options to mobilize the power of descriptive social norms for affecting health behavior change.