Parental and Peer Influences on Food Neophobia Among Young Adults: A Quantitative Analysis of Consumption Trends

This study aimed to investigate how and to what extend parental and peer influences relate to food neophobia in young adults. Using a cross-sectional online survey of 320 participants aged 18–25, we applied multiple statistical analyses. Parental dietary openness showed a negative association with neophobia, while peer social engagement exhibited even stronger negative association. Segmentation identified low, moderate, and high neophobia profiles with distinct responsiveness to exposure opportunities and safety information. Findings indicate that peer-led settings, coupled with concise information on safety and provenance, can reduce neophobic barriers. Targeted strategies aligned to segment profiles may offer a pathway to broaden dietary variety.