ABSTRACT
Objective
This study investigated variables that may mediate the relationship between advertising
susceptibility and adolescent preference for and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
(SSBs), with the goal of informing inoculation-based mitigation approaches grounded
in media literacy and messaging resistance.
Design
The study utilized data from a nationally representative sample of US adolescents
(ages 12–17 years, n = 1,657) from the National Cancer Institute's Family Life, Activity,
Sun, Health, and Eating survey.
Main Outcome Measure
Variables of interest were SSB preference and consumption, advertising susceptibility,
perceived self-efficacy to make good nutritional choices, perceived SSB consumption
by peers, and attitude toward SSBs. Exposure to obesogenic environments was examined
as a moderator.
Analysis
Direct and mediated associations between advertising susceptibility and SSB preference
were estimated through a series of regression and mediation analyses.
Results
Advertising susceptibility was a strong predictor of SSB preference (unstandardized
B = .29, SE = .026, P < .001), which, in turn, was a strong predictor of consumption (unstandardized B = .10,
SE = .01, P < .001), controlling for potential mediators. The only statistically significant
mediator of this association was perceived peer consumption (unstandardized B = .38,
SE = .08, P < .001), which was stronger for adolescents with higher exposure to obesogenic environments.
Conclusions and Implications
This study offers developers of inoculation-based strategies additional insight into
levers that could be targeted for building adolescent resistance to advertising effects.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 15,
2018
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors have not stated any conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
