Stronger together than apart: The role of social support in adopting a healthy plant-based eating pattern

Abstract

The influence of the social environment on health behaviors is well documented. In recent years, there is mounting evidence of the health benefits of a plant-based eating pattern, yet little is known about how the social environment impacts the adoption of a plant-based eating pattern, specifically. In this convergent parallel mixed-methods study, we analyzed quantitative survey data and qualitative focus group data to assess how social support impacted participants of a lifestyle medicine intervention focused on the adoption of a plant-predominant eating pattern. Regression analysis of survey data showed a positive association between positive social support and healthy plant-based eating, while no association was found between negative social support and healthy plant-based eating. Focus groups yielded further insights into how positive aspects of social relationships with family and friends facilitated the adoption of plant-predominant eating among participants. Qualitative findings also showed the ways in which negative social support hindered progress to adopt a plant-predominant eating pattern including not eating the same foods as participants, being judgmental about new dietary behaviors, and encouraging participants to eat non-plant-based foods. Taken together, social support appears to be an important factor for individuals adopting a plant-predominant eating pattern. Future research is needed to explore mechanisms to enhance positive social support while mitigating negative aspects of social relationships for individuals participating in similar lifestyle medicine interventions that emphasize on plant-predominant eating.

Keywords: Behavior change; Lifestyle medicine; Lifestyle modification; Plant-based diet; Social support.