This study investigated multiple social influences to determine whether they affect amount eaten at a fast-food environment. Using observational methods, data on meal duration, foods eaten and personal characteristics were collected for 157 McDonald’s patrons. Analysis of covariance revealed that female diners ate less kilojoules when eating in mixed- versus same-sex groups (adjusted difference = 967 kJ, p < .05), while male diners eating in mixed-sex company ate more in groups compared to pairs (adjusted difference = 1067 kJ, p = .019). Influences to increase and restrict the amount eaten can operate simultaneously in an eating environment with gender a critical factor for consideration.
BellRPlinerPL (2003) Time to eat: The relationship between the number of people eating and meal duration in three lunch settings. Appetite41: 215–218.
2.
BrindalEWilsonCMohrP. (2011) Does meal duration predict amount consumed in lone diners? An evaluation of the time-extension hypothesis. Appetite57: 77–79.
3.
ChaikenSPlinerP (1987) Women, but not men, are what they eat – The effect of meal size and gender on perceived femininity and masculinity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin13: 166–176.
4.
De CastroJM (1990) Social facilitation of duration and size but not rate of the spontaneous meal intake of humans. Physiology & Behavior47: 1129–1135.
5.
De CastroJM (1994) Family and friends produce greater social facilitation of food-intake than other companions. Physiology & Behavior56: 445–455.
6.
De CastroJMBrewerEM (1992) The amount eaten in meals by humans is a power function of the number of people present. Physiology & Behavior51: 121–125.
7.
De LucaRVSpigelmanMN (1979) Effects of models on food intake of obese and non-obese female college students. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science11: 124–129.
8.
DunnKIMohrPBWilsonCJ. (2008) Beliefs about fast food in Australia: A qualitative analysis. Appetite51: 331–334.
9.
FeunekesGIde GraafCVanstaverenWA (1995) Social facilitation of food-intake is mediated by meal duration. Physiology & Behavior58: 551–558.
10.
HermanCPFitzgeraldNEPolivyJ (2003) The influence of social norms on hunger ratings and eating. Appetite41: 15–20.
11.
KlesgesRCBartschDNorwoodJD. (1984) The effects of selected social and environmental variables on the eating behaviour of adults in the natural environment. International Journal of Eating Disorders3: 35–41.
12.
LearyMRNezlekJBDownsD. (1994) Self-presentation in everyday interactions – Effects of target familiarity and gender composition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology67: 664–673.
PlinerPChaikenS (1990) Eating, social motives and self-presentation in women and men. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology26: 204–254.
15.
RenoRRCialdiniRBKallgrenCA (1993) The transsituational influence of social norms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology64: 104–112.
16.
RothDAHermanCPPolivyJ. (2001) Self-presentational conflict in social eating situations: A normative perspective. Appetite36: 165–171.
17.
SalvySJJarrinDPaluchR. (2007) Effects of social influence on eating in couples, friends and strangers. Appetite49: 92–99.
18.
SommerRWynesMBrinkleyG (1992) Social facilitation effects in shopping behavior. Environment and Behavior24: 285–297.
19.
WoodWChristensenPNHeblMR. (1997) Conformity to sex-typed norms, affect, and the self-concept. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology73: 523–535.
20.
YantchevaBBrindalE (2013) How much does what you eat matter? The potential role of meal size, fat content, and gender on ratings of desirability. Eating Behaviors14: 285–290.
