Influence of Screen-Based Peer Modeling on Preschool Children's Vegetable Consumption and Preferences

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2016-05, Vol.48 (5), p.331-335.e1
• Main Authors: Staiano, Amanda E., PhD, Marker, Arwen M., BA, Frelier, Johannah M., BS, Hsia, Daniel S., MD, Martin, Corby K., PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body Composition; child; Child, Preschool; Computer & video games; Diet; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Feeding Behavior; Female; Food Preferences; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Online entertainment; Peer Group; Peers; Performance evaluation; Preferences; preschool; Preschool children; Statistical Analysis; Television; Vegetables; video; Video Technology
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1708-8259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2016.02.005

Abstract Objective To determine the influence of screen-based peer modeling on children's vegetable consumption and preference. Methods A total of 42 children aged 3–5 years were randomly assigned to view individually a video segment of peers consuming a modeled vegetable (bell pepper), vs a nonfood video segment or no video. Analysis of covariance models examined bell pepper preference and consumption during initial video exposure (day 1) and without video exposure (days 2 and 7), adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and initial bell pepper consumption. Results Children in the vegetable condition ate more bell peppers (15.5 g) than did those in the control condition (5.9 g; P  = .04; model η2  = 0.85) on day 7, with no differences on days 1 or 2. Among children who ate the modeled vegetable, those in the vegetable DVD condition reported greater preference for eating the vegetable again ( P  = .01). Conclusions and Implications Screen-based peer modeling is a promising tool to influence children's vegetable consumption.