Dietary Habits, Obesity, Weight Gain, Weight Prejudice
Conditions
Keywords
counter-marketing, health communication, sugar sweetened beverage
Brief summary
This study aims to examine consumer responses to traditional and counter-marketing messages discouraging sugary drink consumption, including effects on intentions to consume sugary drinks and perceived weight stigma. Because prior research has suggested that counter-marketing may be especially effective among younger populations, the investigators will examine effects overall and by age group (young adults \[ages 18-29 years\] vs. middle and older adults \[ages 30+ years\]).
Detailed description
In this online randomized clinical trial, participants will be randomized to one of three arms: 1) Control (neutral) messages, 2) Traditional health messages, and 3) Counter-marketing messages. In each arm, participants will view four messages developed for their randomly assigned arm and answer questions about the messages and their behavioral intentions.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALExposure to counter-marketing messages
Counter-marketing messages about sugary drinks that incorporate principles of effective counter-marketing campaigns, including describing industry manipulation of consumers, appealing to emotions (especially anger), describing health consequences, and criticizing the industry for demographic targeting. Messages include text adapted from prior counter-marketing campaigns. Participants will view a total of 4 messages developed for this arm.
BEHAVIORALExposure to traditional health messages
Traditional health messages focused on the health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, using text adapted from prior sugary drink campaigns. Participants will view a total of 4 messages developed for this arm.
BEHAVIORALExposure to control (neutral) messages
Control messages approximately matched to the intervention messages on length, but discussing a neutral topic unrelated to sugary drinks (safe driving). Participants will view a total of 4 messages developed for this arm.
Sponsors
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Stanford University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 18 years old or older
Exclusion criteria
* Less than 18 years old
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Intentions to consume sugary drinks | The survey will take up to 20 minutes | We will assess intentions to consume sugary drinks using 2 items: In the next week, I plan to drink sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, or fruit drinks, and In the next week, I am likely to drink sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas, sports drinks, or fruit drinks. Response options to both items will use a 5-point Likert scale: the first item's response options will range from definitely not (1) to definitely yes (5), and the second item's response options will range from not at all likely (1) to extremely likely (5). We will average responses to the 2 items. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Negative feelings toward drinking sugary drinks | The survey will take up to 20 minutes | Item: How do these messages make you feel about drinking sugary drinks? This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from extremely positive (1) to extremely negative (5). |
| Anticipated social interactions | The survey will take up to 20 minutes | We will examine anticipated social interactions by asking, How likely are you to talk about these messages with others in the next week? This item will be scored on a 5-pt Likert scale ranging from not at all likely (1) to extremely likely (5). |
| Perceived message effectiveness for discouraging sugary drink consumption | The survey will take up to 20 minutes | Item: These messages discourage me from wanting to drink sugary drinks. This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all (1) to a great deal (5). |
| Perceived obesity stigma | The survey will take up to 20 minutes | We will examine the extent to which participants perceive the messages as contributing to obesity stigma by asking 3 items: These messages promote negative attitudes about people who have overweight or obesity, These messages increase blame towards people for being overweight, and These messages make obesity seem like a much simpler issue than it really is. Each item will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5). We will average responses to these items. |
| Message reactance | The survey will take up to 20 minutes | We will examine psychological reactance to the messages by asking 3 items: These messages are trying to manipulate me, These messages are overblown and How much do these messages make you feel angry? Each item will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5). We will average responses to these items, assuming sufficient internal consistency (alpha\>=.70). |
| Attitudes toward sugary drink companies | The survey will take up to 20 minutes | We will examine attitudes toward sugary drink companies by asking, How do you feel about companies that make sugary drinks? This item will be scored on a 5-pt Likert scale ranging from dislike them a lot (1) to like them a lot (5). |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed