# NIDCR/NIH: R21 Misleading messages, Ambivalent attitudes: Teen beliefs about sports drinks

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2020 · $214,375

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
SSBs in general is a cause of dental erosion and dental caries among adolescents and play a significant role in
overweight, obesity, and diabetes. The consumption of sports and energy drinks tripled from 1999-2008,
suggesting the need for a more pointed focus on this type of sugary drink, especially considering public
uncertainty about the sugar and caloric content of sports drinks. Perceptions of sports drinks providing health
benefits like hydration, athletic performance, and athletic recovery are perpetuated in part by sports drink
advertising that emphasize such gains. The purpose of this study is to examine the ambivalence about the
healthfulness of sports drinks among adolescents and analyze the media environment that perpetuates such
confusion. The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) offer a theory-
based framework from which to approach (1) the prevention of obesity and dental caries and erosion through
the promotion of a reduction of sports drinks consumption among adolescents and (2) a resolution to the
ambiguity associated with this popular type of SSB. Thus the primary goal of this project is to identify
modifiable individual and environmental (i.e., media) factors that could be incorporated into health messaging
that discourages sports drink consumption as a strategy for improving adolescent dental health. The first step
in accomplishing these goals is a content analysis of video advertisements (n=135) of popular sports drinks
brands (i.e., Gatorade, Powerade, and Vitamin Water) to determine their persuasive strategies. The
advertisement analysis will be based on communication theory and will code ads for central and peripheral
cues as per the ELM and for belief, normative, and efficacy aspects as per the RAA. Next, a comprehensive
RAA study which includes elicitation research and an online quantitative survey will be implemented to identity
key adolescent beliefs about sports drinks with a focus on the target behavior of reducing sports drink
consumption. Semi-structured elicitation interviews in 4 focus groups with adolescents ages 14-18 years old
will be used to generate a comprehensive inventory of attitudinal, normative, and efficacy beliefs associated
with reducing sports drink consumption and to validate categories of ads from the content analysis. Using
results from this formative phase, an online RA survey among 14-18 year old youth in the United States
(n=500) will be implemented to discern adolescents’ beliefs about health and dental effects of sports drinks
and the relevant determinants of adolescents’ intention to reduce their sports drink consumption. Finally, based
on findings from the content analysis and survey, theory-based messages that focus on reducing sports drink
consumption and counter-arguing sports drink advertisements will be developed. Working with a Teen
Research Team (TRT) and a graphic designer, prototype digital messages suitable for dissemination on so...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9854933
- **Project number:** 5R21DE028414-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Bleakley
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $214,375
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-10-12 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9854933

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9854933, NIDCR/NIH: R21 Misleading messages, Ambivalent attitudes: Teen beliefs about sports drinks (5R21DE028414-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9854933. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*