By Bhavana KunkalikarJun 27 2023Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. In a recent study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, researchers examine the impact of pictorial warnings on parents' decisions to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages for their children.
Nevertheless, the impact of these warnings on parental behavior's psychological mechanisms remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine the mechanisms responsible for how pictorial warnings impact parents' purchasing behavior of SSBs for their children. The research was conducted at the UNC Mini Mart, a research-oriented convenience store spanning 245 square feet located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A parallel arm study design was employed, wherein participants were randomly assigned to either control labels or pictorial warnings by the staff.
Study findings The average age of the parents was 38 years, 77% of whom were women. The group consisted of less than 50% non-Hispanic White individuals, 25% non-Hispanic Black individuals, and 20% Hispanics. The warnings resulted in decreased perceptions that SSBs are healthy for children and a greater likelihood of limiting SSBs to children. Pictorial warnings also reduced the intentions of adults to serve SSBs to their children and increased expected social interactions.