The Relationship Between Peer Group Support and the Selection of Healthy Snacks Among School-Aged Children at SDN 19 in Bengkulu City

Peer group support refers to assistance provided by peers, both verbal and nonverbal, in the form of emotional, appreciative, instrumental, and informational support. School-aged children tend to be unable to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy snacks. At school, peers play a significant role in snack selection, while parents play a significant role in teaching children to choose healthy snacks. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between peer group support and the selection of healthy snacks among fifth-grade students at SDN 19 in Bengkulu City. The research method used is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sampling technique employed purposive sampling, with a sample size of 48 students from SDN 19 in Bengkulu City, and the data was analyzed using the chi-square test. The results of the univariate analysis showed that out of 48 respondents, the majority (32 or 66.7%) reported negative peer group support, while nearly half (16 or 33.3%) reported positive snack choices. Meanwhile, the bivariate test yielded a P-value of 0.000, indicating a significant association between peer group support and the selection of healthy snacks among fifth-grade students at SDN 19 in Bengkulu City. The researcher recommends that the school enhance students’ knowledge regarding the selection of healthy snacks.