Online Randomized Experiment Evaluating Ultra-Processed Food Warning Labels on Social Media Posts Among Teens and Young Adults
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 1,012
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- Consumer understanding
研究概览
简要总结
This study aims to evaluate whether Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) warning labels on social media posts improve consumer understanding and influence purchase intentions among teens and young adults. Participants aged 13-29 in the United States will be recruited and randomized into two groups: a control group (no label) and an intervention group (UPF warning). Participants will view social media posts featuring UPFs with or without warning labels and respond to survey questions following each post.
详细描述
This study is designed to assess the effect of a highly visible UPF warning label on social media posts among adolescents and young adults in the United States. we will recruit approximately 500 US teens aged 13-17 and 500 young adults aged 18-29.
Participants will complete a between-subjects online randomized experiment. They will be randomized into either a UPF warning label group or a no label control group. Participants will view four social media posts featuring UPFs (with or without warning labels based on their assigned group) in random order. These posts are based on real Instagram advertisements from leading food and beverage companies; two posts will feature sugar-sweetened beverages and two will feature fast-food menu items. After viewing each post, participants will answer questions assessing consumer understanding, purchase intentions, and perceived healthfulness. At the end of the survey, all participants will also respond to questions regarding perceptions of control over healthy eating, policy support for UPF warnings, and their understanding of the term "ultra-processed food."
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Prevention
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 13 Years 至 29 Years（Child, Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Aged 13-29
- •Reside in the US
- •Can read and speak English
排除标准
- •Under the age of 13 or over 29
- •Reside outside of the United States
- •Unable to complete a survey in English
研究组 & 干预措施
UPF Warning Labels
UPF warning labels will be placed beneath each social media post. Each label will feature an icon accompanied by explanatory text, using the exact health risk wording proposed in the Childhood Diabetes Reductions Act: "Warning: consuming ultra-processed foods and drinks can cause weight gain, which increases the risk of obesity and type-2 diabetes". All text will be left-aligned. The icon will consist of exclamation marks within a yellow triangle. The warning label will be large and highly visible and enclosed within a bold rectangular border.
干预措施: UPF Warning Labels (Behavioral)
No Label (Control)
No label
干预措施: No Labels (Control) (Behavioral)
结局指标
主要结局
Consumer understanding
时间窗: Assessed during one-time 10-minute online study survey
For each social media post, participants will be asked whether they think the product is ultra-processed. Response options will be "yes", "no", or "I don't know". Consumer understanding will be coded as a binary outcome: "yes" = correct; "no" and "I don't know" = incorrect.
Purchase intentions
时间窗: Assessed during one-time 10-minute online study survey
For each social media post, participants will be asked how likely they would buy the product in the next week, either in-store or online. Response options will be on a 1-5 Likert scale, with 5 being "very likely". Higher scores indicate higher intentions to purchase the product.
次要结局
- Perceived healthfulness(Assessed during one-time 10-minute online study survey)
- Perceptions of control over healthy eating(Assessed during one-time 10-minute online study survey)
- Policy support for ultra-processed food warning labels(Assessed during one-time 10-minute online study survey)
研究者
Yuru Huang
Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee