Social psychological and structural influences on vegetarian beliefs

This Study examines the link between social structural variables (gender, r ace, education, age, rural childhood), individual social psychology (altrui sm, self-interest, traditionality, and openness to change), and beliefs abo ut the benefits of vegetarianism (for health, the environment, animals, and world hunger) and self-reported vegetarianism. Data from a random sample o f 420 adult U.S. residents showed that 5.2 percent considered themselves ve getarian. The strongest predictor of vegetarianism as a dietary choice was the belief that vegetarianism is beneficial to the environment. None of the social structural variables had a direct influence on vegetarianism as a d ietary choice. Of the four values studied, only altruism and traditional va lues influenced beliefs about the benefits of vegetarianism. Altruistic val ues increased, and traditional values decreased, beliefs that vegetarianism is beneficial to health, the environment, farm. animals, and world hunger. Blacks were more likely than Whites to adhere to the beliefs that vegetari anism helps prevent cruelty to farm animals, is beneficial to personal heal th, and is beneficial to the environment. The race differences in beliefs p ersisted even with controls for values.