Teenage Vegetarianism In A Social Context

Attempts to measure the prevalence of teenage vegetarianism and associated food habits and beliefs in Australia.

Females comprise the larger portion of teenage vegetarians, according to this study.

It is estimated that 8-37% of females teens and 1-12% of male teens are vegetarian or semi-vegetarian as defined herein.

Vegetarian influence over teens was most notable from mothers (63%) and peers (46%).

The most frequently cited reasons for vegetarianism by the polled teens were health, animal welfare and environmental reasons.

Almost half of the females polled have considered being vegetarian at some time, versus the one sixth of males who had considered the same thing.

Teens who consumed meat less than two times during a two month period were categorized as vegetarians; teens who consumed meat less than five times during a two month period were categorized as semi-vegetarian.

Near one quarter of teens felt they missed meat too much when they tried vegetarianism and one fifth cited health reasons for not becoming vegetarian.

Female teens associated with more vegetarians than their male counterparts.