Social network research and meat reduction – An overview of research directions and results from a study in Denmark
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Standard
Social network research and meat reduction – An overview of research directions and results from a study in Denmark. / Lund, Thomas Bøker; Halkier, Bente.
I: Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, Bind 14, 100203, 2024.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Social network research and meat reduction – An overview of research directions and results from a study in Denmark
AU - Lund, Thomas Bøker
AU - Halkier, Bente
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Reducing the current level of meat consumption would reap significant environmental benefits. However, a consumer transition towards more plant-rich eating is lagging, and the social sciences have had limited success in understanding behavioural change in this area. Here, we advocate a research agenda focussing on the role social networks could play in encouraging consumers to eat less meat. We present main research directions in social network theory and highlight the distinction between simple and complex behavioural domains of which food and eating practices are an example of the latter. To illustrate one way in which social network insights can contribute to meat reduction research, we then present results from a questionnaire-based study of Danish consumers. We examine the association between an individual's personal network and reduced meat consumption. In line with assumptions, we show that, for a complex domain such as food and eating practices, exposure from multiple network sources is central to behavioural adoption. However, multiple network exposure is predominantly important for the initial decision to eat less meat. A narrower network of personal contacts become more central during the implementation stage. We end by outlining future research directions for social network research regarding meat reduction.
AB - Reducing the current level of meat consumption would reap significant environmental benefits. However, a consumer transition towards more plant-rich eating is lagging, and the social sciences have had limited success in understanding behavioural change in this area. Here, we advocate a research agenda focussing on the role social networks could play in encouraging consumers to eat less meat. We present main research directions in social network theory and highlight the distinction between simple and complex behavioural domains of which food and eating practices are an example of the latter. To illustrate one way in which social network insights can contribute to meat reduction research, we then present results from a questionnaire-based study of Danish consumers. We examine the association between an individual's personal network and reduced meat consumption. In line with assumptions, we show that, for a complex domain such as food and eating practices, exposure from multiple network sources is central to behavioural adoption. However, multiple network exposure is predominantly important for the initial decision to eat less meat. A narrower network of personal contacts become more central during the implementation stage. We end by outlining future research directions for social network research regarding meat reduction.
KW - Flexitarians
KW - Meat reduction
KW - Population-wide study
KW - Social network
KW - Social tipping point
KW - Sustainable food consumption
U2 - 10.1016/j.clrc.2024.100203
DO - 10.1016/j.clrc.2024.100203
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85196974997
VL - 14
JO - Cleaner and Responsible Consumption
JF - Cleaner and Responsible Consumption
SN - 2666-7843
M1 - 100203
ER -
ID: 398719360