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Understanding decision‐making processes for sugar consumption in adolescence
Author(s) -
Freeman Ruth,
Sheiham Aubrey
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1997.tb00931.x
Subject(s) - medicine , consumption (sociology) , taste , negotiation , food choice , dental health , sugar consumption , theory of planned behavior , developmental psychology , sugar , social psychology , environmental health , psychology , control (management) , food science , dentistry , social science , pathology , management , neuroscience , sociology , political science , law , economics , chemistry
The mechanisms by which adolescents make food choices are not clear. The interaction and combination of the many social and psychological factors must be considered when examining adolescents' decision‐making processes for sound food choices. The aim of this investigation is to examine one specific food choice, namely, the use of sucrose in hot drinks. One hundred and eightyseven adolescents in thir 16th year completed a questionnaire on the consumption of sugar using the method developed by A jzen & F ishbein in their ‘Theory of Reasoned Action’. The group was randomly divided into two groups so that decision‐making processes with respect to two behavioural intentions—adding sugar to tea and coffee and excluding it—could be examined. The findings suggest that the immediate pleasurable taste of sugar outweighed and deferred the recognition of dangers associated with its consumption. Past dental health experiences, behaviours and education together with the role of parental figures acted as important influences. An awareness of these factors should assist dental health professionals to highlight the importance of sound food choices when negotiating dental health goals with adolescents.