Using adolescent identity formation to motivate dietary change: The role of adolescent peer group values

The health of adolescents today will impact future generations, so it is vitally important that they are
supported to live long, healthy lives. One key psychological task of adolescence is the formation of
identity; an active process in which adolescents learn about who they are, who they want to be, and
what their role is in society. Identity shapes a person's behaviour and I believe that identity formation has
a substantial impact on the food choices people make. My PhD will use a range of different methods to
explore how identity formation influences diet in adolescence and the role of social media in this
interaction, particularly in those who choose plant-based diets. I aim to work with adolescents to develop
intervention strategies that could help support them to make healthier, more plant-based food choices
that they can carry forward throughout their lives and pass on to their own children.