Do Parents and Peers Mediate the Influence of Television Advertising on Food-Related Purchases?

Abstract

A survey questionnaire about adolescents'television viewing habits, snacking frequency and usual foods consumed while watching television, and frequency of communication with parents anid peers regarding food advertisements and food purchasing was completed by 887 students enzrolled in Grades 10 through 12 in an urban school district. In this study, comedy shows, movies, and news were the most popular and game shows, soap operas, and Music Television (MTV) were the least popular programs. The amount of MTV, game shows, and cop shows reported by Black students differed significantly from thiat of White students. Thte most frequently consumed snacks included soft drinks, sweets, chips, and popcorn. Snackng did not generally occur in response to seeing a commercial, anid food commercials and food purchasing were rarely discussed with parents and frienids. Respondents reported that commercials were not associated with initiation of snacking while watching television.

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