The effect of television advertising on soft drink consumption: A dual-process models approach.

Background: The continual exposure to soft drink cues in the environment is thought to be a major contributor to the rising consumption of soft drinks. This study investigated the effect of one such cue, television advertising, on soft drink choice and intake. Within the context of dual-process models, we further examined whether any such effects would be stronger for individuals with an automatic tendency to reach for soft drinks (approach bias) or a difficulty resisting soft drinks (poor inhibitory control).
Methods: Young adults (N=127; 18-25 years) viewed television advertisements of either soft drinks or other non-sugar sweetened beverages (control). Soft drink choice was assessed by a beverage choice task and intake by an ostensible taste test. Approach bias and inhibitory control were assessed by soft drink versions of the approach-avoidance and go/no-go tasks, respectively.
Findings: Participants who had viewed soft drink advertisements were more likely to choose a soft drink as their first drink than those who had viewed control advertisements. This effect was stronger for participants with an approach bias for soft drinks. In addition, participants with poorer inhibitory control chose more soft drinks overall when they had viewed the soft drink advertisements. Exposure to soft drink advertisements did not affect soft drink intake.
Discussion: In line with dual-process models, individuals with strong automatic tendencies or poor self-regulatory control were more responsive to television advertising for soft drinks. At a practical level, these cognitive vulnerabilities provide potential targets for intervention to help resist soft drink cues.