1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«This study has two objectives: (a) to examine whether positive social control from peers adds significantly to the variance in men’s HPBs [health-promoting behaviors], over and above the variance explained by sociodemographic variables and variables previously highlighted as significant (namely, health self-efficacy, restrictive emotionality norm, home neighborhood, and spousal positive social control); and (b) to qualitatively compare peer influence narratives in men reporting higher or lower than average adoption of HPBs.» (p. 1571)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
L’étude se base sur 669 hommes provenant du Québec, dont 31 ont été rencontrés pour une entrevue. They were selected from a «random sample of 3,234 men aged 18 years [old] and over from a list of members of partner trade unions active in construction, metallurgy, retail, and police services.» (p. 1571)

Instruments :
- Guide d’entretien semi-directif
- Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Overall the quantitative results suggest that peer influence is associated with a range of HPBs, while the qualitative results suggest several ways through which this influence may operate.» (p. 1576) «The results indicated that health self-efficacy and home neighborhood were positively associated with all six HPBs, while spousal positive social control was positively associated with health responsibility, nutrition, interpersonal relations, and spiritual growth. Adhesion to the restrictive emotionality norm was negatively associated with health responsibility and interpersonal relations. Results from hierarchical multiple regression analyses […] revealed that peer positive social control explained a significant portion of variance for each of the six HPBs and was significantly and positively associated with it, even when controlling for sociodemographic variables, self-efficacy, restrictive emotionality, home neighborhood, and spousal positive social control.» (p. 1574) In addition to family, «[f]riends and coworkers could play a significant role in promoting health behaviors among adult men. Social networks are subcultures that create their own norms. Through encouragement, practical support, and being good role models themselves, men could help their peers take care of their health. The more men adopt healthy lifestyles, the more their healthy behaviors will be considered normal and will propagate themselves through emulation.» (p. 1577)