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Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 1
Gender Differences in Attitudes toward Healthy and Unhealthy Snacking
Mackenzie Kibbe and Stephanie Romig
Grand Valley State University
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 2
Abstract
Past research has shown the presence of gender differences in attitudes toward healthy and
unhealthy snacking. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that snacking attitudes are
influenced by exposure to food in picture form. We sought to test whether gender and pictures on
a survey would influence attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. We hypothesized that
females would express more ambivalence toward unhealthy snacking than males and that
attitudes toward snacking would be more positive when subjects took a survey with pictures of
unhealthy snacks than when they took a survey with pictures of healthy snacks. We also
predicted an interaction effect, hypothesizing that females that took a survey with pictures of
unhealthy snacks would have significantly more positive attitudes toward eating unhealthy
snacks than would males taking the same survey and males and females taking a survey with
pictures of healthy snacks. College students at Grand Valley State University were asked to fill
out a survey with pictures of either healthy or unhealthy snacks that assessed their attitudes
toward snacking. The results indicated six gender effects, four survey effects, and five interaction
effects. Given the prevalence of snacking in the United States, the topic of attitudes toward
healthy and unhealthy snacking is relevant, and thus warrants future research to see if the effects
found in the present study replicate.
Keywords: attitudes toward snacking, snacking, gender, pictures on a survey,
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 3
Gender Differences in Attitudes toward Healthy and Unhealthy Snacking
Introduction
In the United States, there has been a shift away from the traditional consumption of three
large meals a day toward snacking, or “eating smaller amounts of food more frequently”
(Chaplin & Smith, 2011). While snacking has been defined in a variety of ways, “the majority of
papers define a snack relative to a meal as ‘food or drink consumed other than during main meal
times’” (Chaplin & Smith, 2011). Snacking intake has increased considerably for adults, from
71% in 1977 to 97% in the period of 2003-2006 (Piernas & Popkin, 2010a). A similar trend is
present in children: in the period of 1977-1978, 74% of children snacked, while this number
increased to 98% in the period of 2003-2006 (Piernas & Popkin, 2010b). These findings suggest
that snacking represents an important piece of American eating habits.
Attitudes toward snacking are significantly impacted by gender. Studies illustrate that
women are more ambivalent toward unhealthy snacking, perceiving it as less healthy, but more
pleasant, than men (Charles and Kerr, 1986; Pliner & Chaiken, 1990; Rolls et al., 1991; Grogan
et al., 1997). Women also express more concern than men do about gaining weight from eating
unhealthy snacks (Grogan et al., 1997). Based on research by Charles and Kerr (1986), Fursland
(1987), Bovey (1989), and Orbach (1993), women’s ambivalence toward unhealthy snacking
may be due to “conflicting cultural messages aimed at women…suggesting that sweet snacks are
‘naughty’… ‘but nice’” (Grogan et al., 1997). The intentions behind these ‘naughty but nice’
snacks negatively impact women by making them feel limited to healthy snack options, even
when they prefer unhealthy snacks (Weijzen et al., 2009).
Women themselves attribute social pressure as the source of conflict in their mindsets
about eating unhealthily (Charles & Kerr, 1986). Indeed, it appears that American society places
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 4
pressure on women when it comes to their eating habits, as women are perceived as more
feminine (Chaiken & Pliner, 1987; Fursland, 1987; Mori, Chaiken, & Pliner, 1987; Pliner &
Chaiken, 1990; Bock & Kanarek, 1995) and more attractive (Stewart et al., 1973; Polivy et al.,
1986; Silverstein, et al., 1986) when they eat less. As a result, women feel much more social
pressure than do men to not eat unhealthy snacks (Charles & Kerr, 1986; Chaiken & Pliner,
1987; Pliner & Chaiken, 1990).
Individuals express different attitudes toward images based on the content of these
images (Fichter & Jonas, 2008). Similarly, attitudes toward snacking are impacted by exposure
to food in picture form, such as through television advertisements. Children express more
positive attitudes toward unhealthy foods after watching television (Dixon et al., 2007).
Additionally, children’s food choices are strongly linked to the foods they see advertised on
television (Borzekowski & Robinson, 2001; Coon et al., 2001). There is a correlation between
hours children spend watching television and the number of requests they make to their parents
for advertised foods (Taras et al., 1989). Thus, for children, simply seeing a food product
advertised on television increases their desire to eat that food. Given that in a study of 80 food
commercials aimed at children, 49% advertised energy-dense foods high in fat, while a mere
1.3% (one commercial) endorsed vegetables, it seems likely that the foods children request are
unhealthy (Maher et al., 2006).
In light of previous research, we wished to assess gender differences in attitudes toward
healthy and unhealthy snacking, and were interested to see whether or not social pressures play a
role in shaping these attitudes. Furthermore, we planned to study the influence pictures of
healthy and unhealthy snacks have on snacking attitudes. We also sought to test if there was an
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 5
interaction effect between subject gender and pictures of snacks on a survey on attitudes toward
snacking.
Methods
Participants
100 participants were recruited from Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus.
50 students, 25 male and 25 female, completed Version A of the survey, which included pictures
of recognizably healthy foods, including an apple, cucumber slices, pretzels, strawberries, and
carrot sticks (see Appendix). Similarly, 50 students, 25 male and 25 female, were given Version
B of the survey, which included pictures of recognizably unhealthy foods, including a chocolate
chip muffin, chips, a lollipop, a snack cake, and popcorn (see Appendix). All pictures of food
items on each of the surveys were on a white background and were free of labels and brand
names. Participants were randomly selected from the Kirkhof Center. This location should have
produced a random selection of students, which could be generalized to the student population at
Grand Valley State University.
Materials
All participants completed a paper survey. There were two versions of the survey.
Version A featured pictures of recognizably healthy foods: an apple, cucumber slices, pretzels,
strawberries, and carrot sticks, while Version B had pictures of recognizably unhealthy foods: a
chocolate chip muffin, chips, a lollipop, a snack cake, and popcorn (see Appendix). Both
versions of the survey included the same 10 statements that assessed participants’ attitudes
toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. Participants were asked to rate the statements on a Likert
scale from 1 to 7, with 1 representing strongly disagree and 7 representing strongly agree.
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 6
Participants were also asked to circle their gender. In order to accommodate for the
gender diversity of students at Grand Valley State University, participants had the option to mark
“Female,” “Male,” or “Gender Non-Conforming” for their gender. None of the participants
recruited for the present study selected “Gender Non-Conforming” for their gender.
Procedure
Participants – fifty female and fifty male – were approached in the Kirkhof Center and
asked to complete a survey assessing attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. They
were informed that the research was being conducted for an Advanced Research in Psychology
class at Grand Valley State University. Participants were assured that their information would be
kept confidential. Students who consented to participating in the study were asked to complete
the survey. Twenty-five females and 25 males completed Version A of the survey and 25
females and 25 males completed Version B of the survey. Once the participants finished the
survey, their surveys were collected and they were thanked for their time.
Hypotheses
Previous research has shown gender differences in attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy
snacking. Moreover, there is evidence that exposure to pictures of healthy and unhealthy foods
influences individuals’ attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. Thus, in the present
study, we developed three hypotheses.
According to our first hypothesis, female subjects will express more ambivalent attitudes
toward eating unhealthy snacks than males, perceiving them to be less healthy but more pleasant,
and will feel more societal pressure discouraging them from eating unhealthy snacks than will
males.
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 7
Our second hypothesis is that subjects taking a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks
will have more positive attitudes toward unhealthy snacking than will subjects taking a survey
with pictures of healthy snacks.
Lastly, our third hypothesis predicts an interaction effect between subject gender and
pictures of snacks on a survey on attitudes toward snacking. Females taking a survey with
pictures of unhealthy snacks will have significantly more positive attitudes toward eating
unhealthy snacks than will males taking the same survey and males and females taking a survey
with pictures of healthy snacks.
Results
The data were compiled and analyzed through SAS, a computer program. The analyses
found six main effects of subject gender on attitudes toward snacking, four main effects of
pictures on a survey on attitudes toward snacking, and five interaction effects between subject
gender and pictures on a survey on attitudes toward snacking.
A main effect of subject gender was found for statements 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, with
females showing more agreement with these statements than males. A main effect of subject
gender was found for Statement 4 (S4), which stated “I feel guilty when eating unhealthy
snacks.” For S4, F(1,96) = 6.70, p<.05. Females expressed more guilt when eating unhealthy
snacks (M=4.32, SD=2.09; Table 1) than did males (M=3.36, SD=1.97; Table 1).
Statement 6 (S6), which stated “I am more concerned about my weight when eating
unhealthy snacks,” also showed a main effect of subject gender. For S6, F(1,96) = 5.26, p<.05.
Females indicated more concern about their weight when eating unhealthy snacks (M=4.62,
SD=2.07; Table 1) than did males (M=3.70, SD=2.13; Table 1).
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 8
A main effect of subject gender was found for Statement 7 (S7), which stated “I feel
uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks.” For S7, F(1,96) =
10.43, p<.05. Females revealed more discomfort about eating unhealthy snacks when others are
eating healthy snacks (M=4.34, SD=1.89; Table 1) than did males (M=3.18, SD=2.09; Table 1).
Statement 8 (S8), which stated “I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks,” showed a main
effect of subject gender as well. For S8, F(1,96) = 4.69, p<.05. Females indicated feeling more
pressure to eat healthy snacks (M=4.32; SD=1.99; Table 1) than did males (M=3.50, SD=2.11;
Table 1).
Statement 9 (S9) also showed a main effect of subject gender. S9 stated “I will not eat
unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.” For S9, F(1,96) = 4.10, p<.05.
Females expressed less willingness to eat unhealthy snacks unless their friends were (M=3.92,
SD=1.84; Table 1) than did males (M=3.20, SD=2.19; Table 1).
A main effect of subject gender was found with Statement 10 (S10), which stated “Others
judge me when I am eating unhealthy snacks.” For S10, F(1,96) = 9.15, p<.05. Females said that
they felt judged more when eating unhealthy snacks (M=4.04, SD=2.01; Table 1) than did males
(M=2.90, SD=1.79; Table 1).
A main effect of survey type was found for statements 2, 3, 7, and 9. Subjects taking the
healthy survey rated statements 2 and 3 more highly than did subjects taking the unhealthy
survey. Subjects taking the unhealthy survey, on the other hand, rated statements 7 and 9 more
highly than did subjects taking the healthy survey.
Statement 2 (S2), which stated “Eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems,”
indicated a main effect of survey type. For S2, F(1,96) = 20.19, p<.05. Subjects taking the
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 9
healthy survey expressed that eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems more (M=5.34,
SD=1.56; Table 2) than did subjects taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.66, SD=2.11; Table 2).
A main effect of survey type was also found for Statement 3 (S3), which stated
“Unhealthy snacks taste better than healthy snacks.” For S3, F(1,96) = 12.07, p<.05. Subjects
taking the healthy survey indicated that unhealthy snacks were more pleasant than healthy snacks
(M=5.34, SD=1.70; Table 2) more than subjects taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.04, SD=2.05;
Table 2).
For Statement 7 (S7), which stated “I feel uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when
others are eating healthy snacks,” there was a main effect of survey type. For S7, F(1,96) = 6.56,
p<.05. Subjects taking the unhealthy survey revealed more discomfort about eating unhealthy
snacks when others are eating healthy snacks (M=4.22, SD=1.84; Table 2) than did subjects
taking the healthy survey (M=3.30, SD=2.19; Table 2).
A main effect of survey type was also found for Statement 9 (S9), which stated “I will not
eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.” For S9, F(1,96) = 13.78,
p<.05. Subjects taking the unhealthy survey expressed less willingness to eat unhealthy snacks
unless their friends were (M=4.22, SD=1.88; Table 2) than did subjects taking the healthy survey
(M=2.90, SD=2.01; Table 2).
We found interaction effects between subject gender and pictures on a survey on attitudes
toward snacking for statements 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Female subjects taking the healthy survey rated
statements 4, 5, 6, and 8 more highly than did subjects in the other conditions (female-unhealthy,
male-healthy, and male-unhealthy). Male subjects taking the unhealthy survey, on the other
hand, rated statement 9 more highly than subjects in the other conditions (female-healthy,
female-unhealthy, and male-healthy).
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 10
An interaction effect was found for Statement 4 (S4), which stated “I feel guilty when
eating unhealthy snacks.” For S4, F(1,96) = 21.51, p<.05. Females felt more guilty about eating
unhealthy snacks when taking the healthy survey (M=5.12, SD=1.79; Table 3) than did males
taking the healthy survey (M=2.44, SD=1.71; Table 3), males taking the unhealthy survey
(M=4.28, SD=1.79; Table 3), and females taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.52, SD=2.10; Table
3).
There was also an interaction effect for Statement 5 (S5), which stated “I avoid unhealthy
snacks.” For S5, F(1,96) = 5.59, p<.05. Females taking the healthy survey avoided unhealthy
snacks more (M=4.32, SD=2.10; Table 4) than did males taking the healthy survey (M=2.76,
SD=2.01; Table 4), males taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.00, SD=2.06; Table 4), and females
taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.64, SD=1.96; Table 4).
An interaction effect was found for Statement 6 (S6), which stated “I am concerned about
my weight when eating unhealthy snacks.” For S6, F(1,96) = 9.56, p<.05. Females expressed
more concern about their weight when taking the healthy survey (M=4.96, SD=2.15; Table 5)
than did males taking the healthy survey (M=2.80, SD=2.00; Table 5), males taking the
unhealthy survey (M=4.60, SD=1.89; Table 5), and females taking the unhealthy survey
(M=4.28, SD=1.97; Table 5).
Statement 8 (S8), which stated “I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks,” also had an
interaction effect. For S8, F(1,96) = 19.23, p<.05. Females felt more pressure to eat healthy
snacks when taking the healthy survey (M=5.08, SD=1.63; Table 6) than did males taking the
healthy survey (M=2.60, SD=1.78; Table 6), males taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.40,
SD=2.06; Table 6), and females taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.56, SD=2.06; Table 6).
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 11
An interaction effect was found for Statement 9 (S9), which stated “I will not eat
unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.” For S9, F(1,96) = 17.33, p<.05.
Males taking the unhealthy survey expressed less willingness to eat unhealthy snacks unless their
friends were (M=4.60, SD=1.85; Table 7) than did females taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.84,
SD=1.86; Table 7), females taking the healthy survey (M=4.00, SD=1.85; Table 7), and males
taking the healthy survey (M=1.80, SD=1.53; Table 7).
Discussion
Overall, females agreed more with statements 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 than did males.
Females were guiltier, more self-conscious, and felt greater pressure from society and their peers.
Our findings support part of our first hypothesis, as females felt more societal pressure
discouraging them from eating unhealthy snacks than males. These results, however, did not
support the other part of our first hypothesis, as females did not express more ambivalent
attitudes toward eating unhealthy snacks than males. One possible reason for this could be that
the statements to support this part of the hypothesis were not significant enough to yield the
predicted result. Another potential cause could be that both males and females find unhealthy
snacks pleasant.
Subjects taking the healthy survey rated statements 2 and 3 more highly than did subjects
taking the unhealthy survey, whereas subjects taking the unhealthy survey rated statements 7 and
9 more highly than did subjects taking the healthy survey. Thus, the healthy survey caused
participants to have more worries about their health, while it also made them crave unhealthy
snacks more. The unhealthy survey, on the other hand, caused participants to feel more
uncomfortable about eating unhealthy snacks when others were eating healthy snacks or no
snacks at all. For the most part, our findings do not support our second hypothesis; subjects
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 12
taking a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks did not have more positive attitudes toward
unhealthy snacking, except for in the case of statement 2. This lack of effect is likely due to the
guilt that the unhealthy images create in the participants. It could also be the result of the pictures
being printed in black and white; perhaps this made the snacks less appealing overall. Another
possibility is that subjects may not have paid attention to the pictures when taking the survey.
Lastly, it could be that the effects of the pictures were not strong enough.
An interaction effect between subject gender and survey type on attitudes toward
snacking was found with statements 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Females taking the healthy survey agreed
more with statements 4, 5, 6, and 8 than did participants in the other conditions (female-
unhealthy, male-healthy, and male-unhealthy). Surprisingly, males taking the unhealthy survey
agreed more with statement 9 than did participants in the other conditions (female-healthy,
female-unhealthy, and male-healthy). This indicates that males taking the unhealthy survey are
less willing than participants in the other conditions to eat unhealthy snacks unless their friends
are.
Our findings do not support our third hypothesis, as females taking a survey with pictures
of unhealthy snacks did not have significantly more positive attitudes toward unhealthy snacking
than did males taking the same survey. The interaction effects of statements 4, 5, 6, and 8 show
that females taking a survey with pictures of healthy snacks had significantly more negative
attitudes toward unhealthy snacking. Thus, it seems that seeing pictures of healthy snacks elicits
guilt in females. Perhaps females perceive pictures of healthy snacks as a form of societal
pressure encouraging them to eat healthy snacks. The interaction effect of statement 9 is
interesting because it goes in the opposite direction of what we predicted. Males taking the
unhealthy survey felt more pressure from their peers to eat healthy snacks. Perhaps the wording
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 13
of the statement was confusing, thus resulting in this effect. We are not entirely sure what is
causing this effect, given that it is inconsistent with our other interaction effects.
Our sample selection may have influenced our results, which generalized only to the
student population at Grand Valley State University, a small, mostly white liberal arts college.
We may find different effects in a random sample of the entire population, as such a sample
would be more diverse, with individuals of different ages, races, ethnicities, and so forth. The
research that we referenced when creating this study used such a sample, and they found the
predicted effects. Perhaps we would find these effects, too, with a larger, more diverse sample.
Overall, the present study found effects of gender and effects of survey type on attitudes
toward snacking. Furthermore, the results also indicated interaction effects between gender and
survey type on attitudes toward snacking. Given the results of the present study, as well as the
fact that snacking seems to represent an important piece of Americans’ eating habits, the topic of
attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking warrants future research (Piernas & Popkin
2010a; Piernas & Popkin, 2010b). Perhaps further research would find evidence for the
hypotheses that were not supported by our study and stronger evidence for those hypotheses that
were. It is important, too, to see if the results found in this study replicate. Furthermore, we
would be interested in looking into the interaction effect on statement 9 that did not make sense,
where males taking the unhealthy survey indicated that they felt more pressure from their friends
to eat healthy snacks. This effect may be due to the wording of the question, and future research
could indicate whether or not this is the case. Ultimately, given the apparent transition toward
snacking in the United States, it is important that Americans’ attitudes toward healthy and
unhealthy snacking be researched.
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 14
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Table 1
Main Effects of Subject Gender
Males M(SD) Females M(SD)
S4 3.36(1.97) 4.32(2.09)
S6 3.70(2.13) 4.62(2.07)
S7 3.18(2.09) 4.34(1.89)
S8 3.50(2.11) 4.32(1.99)
S9 3.20(2.19) 3.92(1.84)
S10 2.90(1.79) 4.04(2.01)
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Table 2
Main Effects of Survey Type
Healthy M(SD) Unhealthy M(SD)
S2 5.34(1.56) 3.66(2.11)
S3 5.34(1.70) 4.04(2.05)
S7 3.30(2.19) 4.22(1.84)
S9 2.90(2.01) 4.22(1.88)
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 19
Table 3
Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 4
Males M(SD) Females M(SD)
Healthy 2.44(1.71) 5.12(1.79)
Unhealthy 4.28(1.79) 3.52(2.10)
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Table 4
Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 5
Males M(SD) Females M(SD)
Healthy 2.76(2.01) 4.32(2.10)
Unhealthy 4.00(2.06) 3.64(1.96)
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Table 5
Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 6
Males M(SD) Females M(SD)
Healthy 2.80(2.00) 4.96(2.15)
Unhealthy 4.60(1.89) 4.28(1.97)
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Table 6
Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 8
Males M(SD) Females M(SD)
Healthy 2.60(1.78) 5.08(1.63)
Unhealthy 4.40(2.06) 3.56(2.06)
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Table 7
Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 9
Males M(SD) Females M(SD)
Healthy 1.80(1.53) 4.00(1.85)
Unhealthy 4.60(1.85) 3.84(1.86)
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 24
Appendix
Version A
Please rate the statements below to the best of your ability using the following scale: 1-strongly
disagree, 2-disagree, 3-somewhat disagree, 4- neither agree nor disagree, 5-somewhat agree, 6-
agree, & 7-strongly agree. Please circle only one answer.
Gender (circle one): Male Female Gender Non-Conforming
1. I prefer unhealthy snacks over other snack options.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2. Eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3. Unhealthy snacks taste better than other snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4. I feel guilty when eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5. I avoid unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6. I am concerned about my weight when eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Questions continued on back
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 25
7. I feel uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8. I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9. I will not eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10. Others judge me when I am eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 26
Version B
Please rate the statements below to the best of your ability using the following scale: 1-strongly
disagree, 2-disagree, 3-somewhat disagree, 4- neither agree nor disagree, 5-somewhat agree, 6-
agree, & 7-strongly agree. Please circle only one answer.
Gender (circle one): Male Female Gender Non-Conforming
1. I prefer unhealthy snacks over other snack options.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2. Eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3. Unhealthy snacks taste better than other snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4. I feel guilty when eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5. I avoid unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6. I am concerned about my weight when eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Questions continued on back
Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 27
7. I feel uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8. I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9. I will not eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10. Others judge me when I am eating unhealthy snacks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Final Research Project Paper on Snacking and Gender

  • 1. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 1 Gender Differences in Attitudes toward Healthy and Unhealthy Snacking Mackenzie Kibbe and Stephanie Romig Grand Valley State University
  • 2. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 2 Abstract Past research has shown the presence of gender differences in attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that snacking attitudes are influenced by exposure to food in picture form. We sought to test whether gender and pictures on a survey would influence attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. We hypothesized that females would express more ambivalence toward unhealthy snacking than males and that attitudes toward snacking would be more positive when subjects took a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks than when they took a survey with pictures of healthy snacks. We also predicted an interaction effect, hypothesizing that females that took a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks would have significantly more positive attitudes toward eating unhealthy snacks than would males taking the same survey and males and females taking a survey with pictures of healthy snacks. College students at Grand Valley State University were asked to fill out a survey with pictures of either healthy or unhealthy snacks that assessed their attitudes toward snacking. The results indicated six gender effects, four survey effects, and five interaction effects. Given the prevalence of snacking in the United States, the topic of attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking is relevant, and thus warrants future research to see if the effects found in the present study replicate. Keywords: attitudes toward snacking, snacking, gender, pictures on a survey,
  • 3. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 3 Gender Differences in Attitudes toward Healthy and Unhealthy Snacking Introduction In the United States, there has been a shift away from the traditional consumption of three large meals a day toward snacking, or “eating smaller amounts of food more frequently” (Chaplin & Smith, 2011). While snacking has been defined in a variety of ways, “the majority of papers define a snack relative to a meal as ‘food or drink consumed other than during main meal times’” (Chaplin & Smith, 2011). Snacking intake has increased considerably for adults, from 71% in 1977 to 97% in the period of 2003-2006 (Piernas & Popkin, 2010a). A similar trend is present in children: in the period of 1977-1978, 74% of children snacked, while this number increased to 98% in the period of 2003-2006 (Piernas & Popkin, 2010b). These findings suggest that snacking represents an important piece of American eating habits. Attitudes toward snacking are significantly impacted by gender. Studies illustrate that women are more ambivalent toward unhealthy snacking, perceiving it as less healthy, but more pleasant, than men (Charles and Kerr, 1986; Pliner & Chaiken, 1990; Rolls et al., 1991; Grogan et al., 1997). Women also express more concern than men do about gaining weight from eating unhealthy snacks (Grogan et al., 1997). Based on research by Charles and Kerr (1986), Fursland (1987), Bovey (1989), and Orbach (1993), women’s ambivalence toward unhealthy snacking may be due to “conflicting cultural messages aimed at women…suggesting that sweet snacks are ‘naughty’… ‘but nice’” (Grogan et al., 1997). The intentions behind these ‘naughty but nice’ snacks negatively impact women by making them feel limited to healthy snack options, even when they prefer unhealthy snacks (Weijzen et al., 2009). Women themselves attribute social pressure as the source of conflict in their mindsets about eating unhealthily (Charles & Kerr, 1986). Indeed, it appears that American society places
  • 4. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 4 pressure on women when it comes to their eating habits, as women are perceived as more feminine (Chaiken & Pliner, 1987; Fursland, 1987; Mori, Chaiken, & Pliner, 1987; Pliner & Chaiken, 1990; Bock & Kanarek, 1995) and more attractive (Stewart et al., 1973; Polivy et al., 1986; Silverstein, et al., 1986) when they eat less. As a result, women feel much more social pressure than do men to not eat unhealthy snacks (Charles & Kerr, 1986; Chaiken & Pliner, 1987; Pliner & Chaiken, 1990). Individuals express different attitudes toward images based on the content of these images (Fichter & Jonas, 2008). Similarly, attitudes toward snacking are impacted by exposure to food in picture form, such as through television advertisements. Children express more positive attitudes toward unhealthy foods after watching television (Dixon et al., 2007). Additionally, children’s food choices are strongly linked to the foods they see advertised on television (Borzekowski & Robinson, 2001; Coon et al., 2001). There is a correlation between hours children spend watching television and the number of requests they make to their parents for advertised foods (Taras et al., 1989). Thus, for children, simply seeing a food product advertised on television increases their desire to eat that food. Given that in a study of 80 food commercials aimed at children, 49% advertised energy-dense foods high in fat, while a mere 1.3% (one commercial) endorsed vegetables, it seems likely that the foods children request are unhealthy (Maher et al., 2006). In light of previous research, we wished to assess gender differences in attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking, and were interested to see whether or not social pressures play a role in shaping these attitudes. Furthermore, we planned to study the influence pictures of healthy and unhealthy snacks have on snacking attitudes. We also sought to test if there was an
  • 5. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 5 interaction effect between subject gender and pictures of snacks on a survey on attitudes toward snacking. Methods Participants 100 participants were recruited from Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus. 50 students, 25 male and 25 female, completed Version A of the survey, which included pictures of recognizably healthy foods, including an apple, cucumber slices, pretzels, strawberries, and carrot sticks (see Appendix). Similarly, 50 students, 25 male and 25 female, were given Version B of the survey, which included pictures of recognizably unhealthy foods, including a chocolate chip muffin, chips, a lollipop, a snack cake, and popcorn (see Appendix). All pictures of food items on each of the surveys were on a white background and were free of labels and brand names. Participants were randomly selected from the Kirkhof Center. This location should have produced a random selection of students, which could be generalized to the student population at Grand Valley State University. Materials All participants completed a paper survey. There were two versions of the survey. Version A featured pictures of recognizably healthy foods: an apple, cucumber slices, pretzels, strawberries, and carrot sticks, while Version B had pictures of recognizably unhealthy foods: a chocolate chip muffin, chips, a lollipop, a snack cake, and popcorn (see Appendix). Both versions of the survey included the same 10 statements that assessed participants’ attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. Participants were asked to rate the statements on a Likert scale from 1 to 7, with 1 representing strongly disagree and 7 representing strongly agree.
  • 6. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 6 Participants were also asked to circle their gender. In order to accommodate for the gender diversity of students at Grand Valley State University, participants had the option to mark “Female,” “Male,” or “Gender Non-Conforming” for their gender. None of the participants recruited for the present study selected “Gender Non-Conforming” for their gender. Procedure Participants – fifty female and fifty male – were approached in the Kirkhof Center and asked to complete a survey assessing attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. They were informed that the research was being conducted for an Advanced Research in Psychology class at Grand Valley State University. Participants were assured that their information would be kept confidential. Students who consented to participating in the study were asked to complete the survey. Twenty-five females and 25 males completed Version A of the survey and 25 females and 25 males completed Version B of the survey. Once the participants finished the survey, their surveys were collected and they were thanked for their time. Hypotheses Previous research has shown gender differences in attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. Moreover, there is evidence that exposure to pictures of healthy and unhealthy foods influences individuals’ attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking. Thus, in the present study, we developed three hypotheses. According to our first hypothesis, female subjects will express more ambivalent attitudes toward eating unhealthy snacks than males, perceiving them to be less healthy but more pleasant, and will feel more societal pressure discouraging them from eating unhealthy snacks than will males.
  • 7. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 7 Our second hypothesis is that subjects taking a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks will have more positive attitudes toward unhealthy snacking than will subjects taking a survey with pictures of healthy snacks. Lastly, our third hypothesis predicts an interaction effect between subject gender and pictures of snacks on a survey on attitudes toward snacking. Females taking a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks will have significantly more positive attitudes toward eating unhealthy snacks than will males taking the same survey and males and females taking a survey with pictures of healthy snacks. Results The data were compiled and analyzed through SAS, a computer program. The analyses found six main effects of subject gender on attitudes toward snacking, four main effects of pictures on a survey on attitudes toward snacking, and five interaction effects between subject gender and pictures on a survey on attitudes toward snacking. A main effect of subject gender was found for statements 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, with females showing more agreement with these statements than males. A main effect of subject gender was found for Statement 4 (S4), which stated “I feel guilty when eating unhealthy snacks.” For S4, F(1,96) = 6.70, p<.05. Females expressed more guilt when eating unhealthy snacks (M=4.32, SD=2.09; Table 1) than did males (M=3.36, SD=1.97; Table 1). Statement 6 (S6), which stated “I am more concerned about my weight when eating unhealthy snacks,” also showed a main effect of subject gender. For S6, F(1,96) = 5.26, p<.05. Females indicated more concern about their weight when eating unhealthy snacks (M=4.62, SD=2.07; Table 1) than did males (M=3.70, SD=2.13; Table 1).
  • 8. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 8 A main effect of subject gender was found for Statement 7 (S7), which stated “I feel uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks.” For S7, F(1,96) = 10.43, p<.05. Females revealed more discomfort about eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks (M=4.34, SD=1.89; Table 1) than did males (M=3.18, SD=2.09; Table 1). Statement 8 (S8), which stated “I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks,” showed a main effect of subject gender as well. For S8, F(1,96) = 4.69, p<.05. Females indicated feeling more pressure to eat healthy snacks (M=4.32; SD=1.99; Table 1) than did males (M=3.50, SD=2.11; Table 1). Statement 9 (S9) also showed a main effect of subject gender. S9 stated “I will not eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.” For S9, F(1,96) = 4.10, p<.05. Females expressed less willingness to eat unhealthy snacks unless their friends were (M=3.92, SD=1.84; Table 1) than did males (M=3.20, SD=2.19; Table 1). A main effect of subject gender was found with Statement 10 (S10), which stated “Others judge me when I am eating unhealthy snacks.” For S10, F(1,96) = 9.15, p<.05. Females said that they felt judged more when eating unhealthy snacks (M=4.04, SD=2.01; Table 1) than did males (M=2.90, SD=1.79; Table 1). A main effect of survey type was found for statements 2, 3, 7, and 9. Subjects taking the healthy survey rated statements 2 and 3 more highly than did subjects taking the unhealthy survey. Subjects taking the unhealthy survey, on the other hand, rated statements 7 and 9 more highly than did subjects taking the healthy survey. Statement 2 (S2), which stated “Eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems,” indicated a main effect of survey type. For S2, F(1,96) = 20.19, p<.05. Subjects taking the
  • 9. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 9 healthy survey expressed that eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems more (M=5.34, SD=1.56; Table 2) than did subjects taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.66, SD=2.11; Table 2). A main effect of survey type was also found for Statement 3 (S3), which stated “Unhealthy snacks taste better than healthy snacks.” For S3, F(1,96) = 12.07, p<.05. Subjects taking the healthy survey indicated that unhealthy snacks were more pleasant than healthy snacks (M=5.34, SD=1.70; Table 2) more than subjects taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.04, SD=2.05; Table 2). For Statement 7 (S7), which stated “I feel uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks,” there was a main effect of survey type. For S7, F(1,96) = 6.56, p<.05. Subjects taking the unhealthy survey revealed more discomfort about eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks (M=4.22, SD=1.84; Table 2) than did subjects taking the healthy survey (M=3.30, SD=2.19; Table 2). A main effect of survey type was also found for Statement 9 (S9), which stated “I will not eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.” For S9, F(1,96) = 13.78, p<.05. Subjects taking the unhealthy survey expressed less willingness to eat unhealthy snacks unless their friends were (M=4.22, SD=1.88; Table 2) than did subjects taking the healthy survey (M=2.90, SD=2.01; Table 2). We found interaction effects between subject gender and pictures on a survey on attitudes toward snacking for statements 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Female subjects taking the healthy survey rated statements 4, 5, 6, and 8 more highly than did subjects in the other conditions (female-unhealthy, male-healthy, and male-unhealthy). Male subjects taking the unhealthy survey, on the other hand, rated statement 9 more highly than subjects in the other conditions (female-healthy, female-unhealthy, and male-healthy).
  • 10. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 10 An interaction effect was found for Statement 4 (S4), which stated “I feel guilty when eating unhealthy snacks.” For S4, F(1,96) = 21.51, p<.05. Females felt more guilty about eating unhealthy snacks when taking the healthy survey (M=5.12, SD=1.79; Table 3) than did males taking the healthy survey (M=2.44, SD=1.71; Table 3), males taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.28, SD=1.79; Table 3), and females taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.52, SD=2.10; Table 3). There was also an interaction effect for Statement 5 (S5), which stated “I avoid unhealthy snacks.” For S5, F(1,96) = 5.59, p<.05. Females taking the healthy survey avoided unhealthy snacks more (M=4.32, SD=2.10; Table 4) than did males taking the healthy survey (M=2.76, SD=2.01; Table 4), males taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.00, SD=2.06; Table 4), and females taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.64, SD=1.96; Table 4). An interaction effect was found for Statement 6 (S6), which stated “I am concerned about my weight when eating unhealthy snacks.” For S6, F(1,96) = 9.56, p<.05. Females expressed more concern about their weight when taking the healthy survey (M=4.96, SD=2.15; Table 5) than did males taking the healthy survey (M=2.80, SD=2.00; Table 5), males taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.60, SD=1.89; Table 5), and females taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.28, SD=1.97; Table 5). Statement 8 (S8), which stated “I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks,” also had an interaction effect. For S8, F(1,96) = 19.23, p<.05. Females felt more pressure to eat healthy snacks when taking the healthy survey (M=5.08, SD=1.63; Table 6) than did males taking the healthy survey (M=2.60, SD=1.78; Table 6), males taking the unhealthy survey (M=4.40, SD=2.06; Table 6), and females taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.56, SD=2.06; Table 6).
  • 11. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 11 An interaction effect was found for Statement 9 (S9), which stated “I will not eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks.” For S9, F(1,96) = 17.33, p<.05. Males taking the unhealthy survey expressed less willingness to eat unhealthy snacks unless their friends were (M=4.60, SD=1.85; Table 7) than did females taking the unhealthy survey (M=3.84, SD=1.86; Table 7), females taking the healthy survey (M=4.00, SD=1.85; Table 7), and males taking the healthy survey (M=1.80, SD=1.53; Table 7). Discussion Overall, females agreed more with statements 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 than did males. Females were guiltier, more self-conscious, and felt greater pressure from society and their peers. Our findings support part of our first hypothesis, as females felt more societal pressure discouraging them from eating unhealthy snacks than males. These results, however, did not support the other part of our first hypothesis, as females did not express more ambivalent attitudes toward eating unhealthy snacks than males. One possible reason for this could be that the statements to support this part of the hypothesis were not significant enough to yield the predicted result. Another potential cause could be that both males and females find unhealthy snacks pleasant. Subjects taking the healthy survey rated statements 2 and 3 more highly than did subjects taking the unhealthy survey, whereas subjects taking the unhealthy survey rated statements 7 and 9 more highly than did subjects taking the healthy survey. Thus, the healthy survey caused participants to have more worries about their health, while it also made them crave unhealthy snacks more. The unhealthy survey, on the other hand, caused participants to feel more uncomfortable about eating unhealthy snacks when others were eating healthy snacks or no snacks at all. For the most part, our findings do not support our second hypothesis; subjects
  • 12. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 12 taking a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks did not have more positive attitudes toward unhealthy snacking, except for in the case of statement 2. This lack of effect is likely due to the guilt that the unhealthy images create in the participants. It could also be the result of the pictures being printed in black and white; perhaps this made the snacks less appealing overall. Another possibility is that subjects may not have paid attention to the pictures when taking the survey. Lastly, it could be that the effects of the pictures were not strong enough. An interaction effect between subject gender and survey type on attitudes toward snacking was found with statements 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Females taking the healthy survey agreed more with statements 4, 5, 6, and 8 than did participants in the other conditions (female- unhealthy, male-healthy, and male-unhealthy). Surprisingly, males taking the unhealthy survey agreed more with statement 9 than did participants in the other conditions (female-healthy, female-unhealthy, and male-healthy). This indicates that males taking the unhealthy survey are less willing than participants in the other conditions to eat unhealthy snacks unless their friends are. Our findings do not support our third hypothesis, as females taking a survey with pictures of unhealthy snacks did not have significantly more positive attitudes toward unhealthy snacking than did males taking the same survey. The interaction effects of statements 4, 5, 6, and 8 show that females taking a survey with pictures of healthy snacks had significantly more negative attitudes toward unhealthy snacking. Thus, it seems that seeing pictures of healthy snacks elicits guilt in females. Perhaps females perceive pictures of healthy snacks as a form of societal pressure encouraging them to eat healthy snacks. The interaction effect of statement 9 is interesting because it goes in the opposite direction of what we predicted. Males taking the unhealthy survey felt more pressure from their peers to eat healthy snacks. Perhaps the wording
  • 13. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 13 of the statement was confusing, thus resulting in this effect. We are not entirely sure what is causing this effect, given that it is inconsistent with our other interaction effects. Our sample selection may have influenced our results, which generalized only to the student population at Grand Valley State University, a small, mostly white liberal arts college. We may find different effects in a random sample of the entire population, as such a sample would be more diverse, with individuals of different ages, races, ethnicities, and so forth. The research that we referenced when creating this study used such a sample, and they found the predicted effects. Perhaps we would find these effects, too, with a larger, more diverse sample. Overall, the present study found effects of gender and effects of survey type on attitudes toward snacking. Furthermore, the results also indicated interaction effects between gender and survey type on attitudes toward snacking. Given the results of the present study, as well as the fact that snacking seems to represent an important piece of Americans’ eating habits, the topic of attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking warrants future research (Piernas & Popkin 2010a; Piernas & Popkin, 2010b). Perhaps further research would find evidence for the hypotheses that were not supported by our study and stronger evidence for those hypotheses that were. It is important, too, to see if the results found in this study replicate. Furthermore, we would be interested in looking into the interaction effect on statement 9 that did not make sense, where males taking the unhealthy survey indicated that they felt more pressure from their friends to eat healthy snacks. This effect may be due to the wording of the question, and future research could indicate whether or not this is the case. Ultimately, given the apparent transition toward snacking in the United States, it is important that Americans’ attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy snacking be researched.
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  • 17. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 17 Table 1 Main Effects of Subject Gender Males M(SD) Females M(SD) S4 3.36(1.97) 4.32(2.09) S6 3.70(2.13) 4.62(2.07) S7 3.18(2.09) 4.34(1.89) S8 3.50(2.11) 4.32(1.99) S9 3.20(2.19) 3.92(1.84) S10 2.90(1.79) 4.04(2.01)
  • 18. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 18 Table 2 Main Effects of Survey Type Healthy M(SD) Unhealthy M(SD) S2 5.34(1.56) 3.66(2.11) S3 5.34(1.70) 4.04(2.05) S7 3.30(2.19) 4.22(1.84) S9 2.90(2.01) 4.22(1.88)
  • 19. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 19 Table 3 Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 4 Males M(SD) Females M(SD) Healthy 2.44(1.71) 5.12(1.79) Unhealthy 4.28(1.79) 3.52(2.10)
  • 20. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 20 Table 4 Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 5 Males M(SD) Females M(SD) Healthy 2.76(2.01) 4.32(2.10) Unhealthy 4.00(2.06) 3.64(1.96)
  • 21. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 21 Table 5 Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 6 Males M(SD) Females M(SD) Healthy 2.80(2.00) 4.96(2.15) Unhealthy 4.60(1.89) 4.28(1.97)
  • 22. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 22 Table 6 Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 8 Males M(SD) Females M(SD) Healthy 2.60(1.78) 5.08(1.63) Unhealthy 4.40(2.06) 3.56(2.06)
  • 23. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 23 Table 7 Results for Interaction Effects on Statement 9 Males M(SD) Females M(SD) Healthy 1.80(1.53) 4.00(1.85) Unhealthy 4.60(1.85) 3.84(1.86)
  • 24. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 24 Appendix Version A Please rate the statements below to the best of your ability using the following scale: 1-strongly disagree, 2-disagree, 3-somewhat disagree, 4- neither agree nor disagree, 5-somewhat agree, 6- agree, & 7-strongly agree. Please circle only one answer. Gender (circle one): Male Female Gender Non-Conforming 1. I prefer unhealthy snacks over other snack options. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2. Eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3. Unhealthy snacks taste better than other snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4. I feel guilty when eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5. I avoid unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6. I am concerned about my weight when eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Questions continued on back
  • 25. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 25 7. I feel uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9. I will not eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10. Others judge me when I am eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
  • 26. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 26 Version B Please rate the statements below to the best of your ability using the following scale: 1-strongly disagree, 2-disagree, 3-somewhat disagree, 4- neither agree nor disagree, 5-somewhat agree, 6- agree, & 7-strongly agree. Please circle only one answer. Gender (circle one): Male Female Gender Non-Conforming 1. I prefer unhealthy snacks over other snack options. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2. Eating unhealthy snacks causes health problems. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3. Unhealthy snacks taste better than other snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4. I feel guilty when eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5. I avoid unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6. I am concerned about my weight when eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Questions continued on back
  • 27. Running head: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SNACKING 27 7. I feel uncomfortable eating unhealthy snacks when others are eating healthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. I feel pressure to eat healthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9. I will not eat unhealthy snacks unless my friends are eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10. Others judge me when I am eating unhealthy snacks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7