We examined health-related communication between same-sex and other-sex friends and how communication was related to health-related behavior.
Participants
Data from 243 emerging adults attending college (Mage = 18.96, SD = 1.43; 55.6% male) were analyzed.
Methods
Participants completed measures assessing the frequency in which they talked about and made plans to engage in exercise and nutrition-related behaviors with friends, as well as how often they engaged in exercise and nutrition-related behaviors.
Results
In general, participants reported more health-related communication with same-sex friends. Health-related communication with same-sex friends was positively related to health behaviors for men and women. However, the pattern of results differed for men and women depending on the topic of communication and the behavior being examined.
Conclusion
Our study extends the literature by examining the role of sex of friends in health communication and planning and how interactions with friends relate to health-promoting behavior.
AmrheinP. C.MillerW. R.YahneC. E.PalmerM.FulcherL. (2003) Client commitment language during motivational interviewing predicts drug use outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology71(5): 862–878.
2.
AndrewsJ. A.TildesleyE.HopsH.LiF. (2002) The influence of peers on young adult substance use. Health Psychology21(4): 349–357.
3.
ArnettJ. J. (2000) Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. The American Psychologist55(5): 469–480.
4.
BergstromR. L.NeighborsC.LewisM. A. (2004) Do men find “bony” women attractive? Consequences of misperceiving opposite sex perceptions of attractive body image. Body Image1(2): 183–191. doi:10.1016/S1740-1445(03)00025-1.
5.
BrayS. R.BornH. A. (2004) Transition to university and vigorous physical activity: Implications for health and psychological well-being. Journal of American College Health52(4): 181–188. doi:10.3200/JACH.52.4.181-188.
6.
BrownB. B. (1999) Measuring the peer environment of American adolescents. In: FriedmanS. L.WachsT. D. (eds) Assessment of the environment across the lifespan, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pp. 59–90.
7.
BuhrkeR. A.FuquaD. R. (1987) Sex differences in same- and cross-sex supportive relationships. Sex Roles17(5–6): 339–352. doi:10.1007/BF00288457.
8.
BuoteV. M.PancerS. M.PrattM. W.AdamsG.Birnie-LefcovitchS.PolivyJ.WintreM. G. (2007) The importance of friends, friendship, and adjustment among 1st-year university students. Journal of Adolescent Research22(6): 665–689.
9.
CharlesN.WaltersV. (2008) “Men are leavers alone and women are worriers”: Gender differences in discourses of health. Health, Risk & Society10(2): 117–132. doi:10.1080/13698570802160954.
10.
ChristakisN. A. (2004) Social networks and collateral health effects. British Medical Journal329: 184–185.
11.
CollinsW. A.Van DulmenM. (2006) Friendships and romantic relationships in emerging adulthood: Continuities and discontinuities. In: ArnettJ. J.TannerJ. L. (eds) Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pp. 219–234.
12.
DavyS. R.BenesB. A.DriskellJ. A. (2006) Sex differences in dieting trends, eating habits, and nutrition beliefs of a group of Midwestern college students. Journal of the American Dietetic Association106(10): 1673–1677. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2006.07.017.
13.
DunlopW. L.BeauchampM. R. (2011) Engendering choice: Preferences for exercising in gender-segregated and gender-integrated groups and consideration of overweight status. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine18(3): 216–220. doi:10.1007/s12529-010-9125-6.
14.
EnnettS. T.BaumanK. E. (1994) The contribution of influence and selection to adolescent peer group homogeneity: The case of adolescent cigarette smoking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology67(4): 653–663. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.67.4.653.
15.
FeiringC. (1999) Gender identity and the development of romantic relationships in adolescence. In: FurmanW.BrownB. B.FeiringC. (eds) The development of romantic relationships in adolescence, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, pp. 211–232.
16.
GeorgeV. A.JohnsonP. (2001) Weight loss behaviors and smoking in college students of diverse ethnicity. American Journal of Health Behavior25(2): 115–124. doi:10.5993/AJHB.25.2.4.
17.
GrecoP.PendleyJ. S.McDonnellK.ReevesG. (2001) A peer group intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their best friends. Journal of Pediatric Psychology26: 485–490.
18.
HanleyJ. A.NegassaA.EdwardesM. D.ForresterJ. E. (2003) Statistical analysis of correlated data using generalized estimating equations: An orientation. American Journal of Epidemiology157(4): 364–375. doi:10.1093/aje/kwf215.
19.
HermanC. P.RothD. A.PolivyJ. (2003) Effects of the presence of others on food intake: A normative interpretation. Psychological Bulletin129(6): 873–886. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.873.
20.
HolahanC. K.SuzukiR. (2004) Adulthood predictors of health promoting behavior in later aging. International Journal of Aging and Human Development58(4): 289–313.
21.
KeatingX. D.GuanJ.PineroJ. C.BridgesD. M. (2005) A meta-analysis of college students’ physical activity behaviors. Journal of American College Health54(2): 116–125.
22.
KoivulaN. (2001) Perceives characteristics of sports categorized as gender-neutral, feminine and masculine. Journal of Sport Behavior24(4): 377.
23.
LapinskiM. K.RimalR. N. (2005) An explication of social norms. Communication Theory15(2): 127–147. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.2005.tb00329.x.
24.
LarsenH.OverbeekG. J.GranicI.EngelsR. C. M. E. (2010) Imitation of alcohol consumption in same-sex and other-sex dyads. Alcohol and Alcoholism45(6): 557–562.
25.
LauR. R.QuadrelM. J.HartmanK. A. (1990) Development and change of young adults’ preventive health beliefs and behavior: Influence from parents and peers. Journal of Health and Social Behavior31(3): 240. doi:10.2307/2136890.
26.
LefkowitzS.BooneT. L.ShearerC. L. (2004) Communication with best friends about sex-related topics during emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence33(4): 339–351. doi:10.1023/B:JOYO.0000032642.27242.c1.
27.
LowryR.GaluskaD. A.FultonJ. E.BurgesonC. R.KannL. (2005) Weight management goals and use of exercise for weight control among U.S. high school students, 1991–2001. Journal of Adolescent Health36(4): 320–326. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.03.010.
28.
LuszczynskaA.GibbonsF. X.PikoB. F.TekozelM. (2004) Self-regulatory cognitions, social comparison, and perceived peers’ behaviors as predictors of nutrition and physical activity: A comparison among adolescents in Hungary, Poland, Turkey, and USA. Psychology & Health19(5): 577–593. doi:10.1080/0887044042000205844.
29.
MagareyA. M.DanielsL. A.BoultonT. J.CockingtonR. A. (2003) Predicting obesity in early adulthood from childhood and parental obesity. International Journal of Obesity27(4): 505–513. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802251.
30.
MoriD.ChaikenS.PlinerP. (1987) “Eating lightly” and the self-presentation of femininity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology53(4): 693–702.
31.
MorseK. L.DriskellJ. A. (2009) Observed sex differences in fast-food consumption and nutrition self-assessments and beliefs of college students. Nutrition Research29(3): 173–179. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2009.02.004.
32.
NelsonM. C.StoryM.LarsonN. I.Neumark-SztainerD.LytleL. A. (2008) Emerging adulthood and college-aged youth: An overlooked age for weight-related behavior change. Obesity16: 2205–2211.
33.
OakesM.SlotterbackC. (2004) Prejudgments of those who eat a healthy versus an unhealthy food for breakfast. Current Psychology23(4): 267–278. doi:10.1007/s12144-004-1001-6.
34.
O’DoughertyM.SchmitzK. H.HearstM. O.CovelliM.KurzerM. S. (2011) Dual conversations: Body talk about young women and their social contacts. Qualitative Health Research21(9): 1191–1204. doi:10.1177/1049732311405804.
35.
PachuckiM. A.JacquesP. F.ChristakisN. A. (2011) Social network concordance in food choice among spouses, friends, and siblings. American Journal of Public Health101(11): 2170–2177. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300282.
36.
PageA.FoxK. R. (1998) Is body composition important in young people’s weight management decision-making?International Journal of Obesity22(8): 786–792.
37.
PopeH. G.JrGruberA.MagwethB.BureauB.deColC.JoventR.HudsonJ. I. (2000) Body image perception among men in three countries. American Journal of Psychiatry157(8): 1297–1301. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.157.8.1297.
38.
RadmacherK.AzmitiaM. (2006) Are there gendered pathways to intimacy in early adolescents’ and emerging adults’ friendships?Journal of Adolescent Research21(4): 415–448. doi:10.1177/0743558406287402.
39.
RealK.RimalR. N. (2007) Friends talk to friends about drinking: Exploring the role of peer communication in the theory of normative social behavior. Health Communication22(2): 169–180. doi:10.1080/10410230701454254.
40.
SaxenaR.BorzekowskiD. L.RickertV. I. (2002) Physical activity levels among urban adolescent females. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology15(5): 279–284. doi:10.1016/S1083-3188(02)00193-6.
41.
SkenderM. L.GoodrickG. K.Del JuncoD. J.ReevesR. S.DarnellL.GottoA. M.ForeytJ. P. (1996) Comparison of 2-year weight loss trends in behavioral treatments of obesity: Diet, exercise, and combination interventions. Journal of the American Dietetic Association96(4): 342–346.
42.
SteinbergL.MonahanK. C. (2007) Age differences in resistance to peer influence. Developmental psychology43(6): 1531–1543.
43.
TammelinT.LaitinenJ.NäyhäS. (2004) Change in the level of physical activity from adolescence into adulthood and obesity at the age of 31 years. International Journal of Obesity28(6): 775–782. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802622.
44.
VartanianL. R.HermanC. P.PolivyJ. (2007) Consumption stereotypes and impression management: How you are what you eat. Appetite48(3): 265–277. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2006.10.008.
45.
VoorheesC. C.MurrayD.WelkG.BirnbaumA.RibislK. M.JohnsonC. C.JobeJ. B. (2005) The role of peer social network factors and physical activity in adolescent girls. American Journal of Health Behavior29(2): 183–190.
46.
WalkerS.SechristK.PenderN. (1987) The health-promoting lifestyle profile: Development and psychometric characteristics. Nursing Research36(2): 76–81.
47.
WengreenH. J.MoncurC. (2009) Change in diet, physical activity, and body weight among young-adults during the transition from high school to college. Nutrition Journal8(1): 32. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-8-32.
48.
ZickC.SmithK.BrownB.FanJ.Kowaleski-JonesL. (2007) Physical activity during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Journal of Physical Activity and Health4: 125–137.
