Young adults' responses to alternative messages describing a sugar-sweetened beverage price increase.

OBJECTIVE: Many jurisdictions in the USA and globally are considering raising the prices of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) through taxes as a strategy to reduce their consumption. The objective of the present study was to identify whether the rationale provided for an SSB price increase affects young adults' behavioural intentions and attitudes towards SSB. DESIGN: Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of eight SSB price increase rationales. Intentions to purchase SSB and attitudes about the product and policy were measured. SETTING: A forty-six-item cross-sectional Internet survey. SUBJECTS: Undergraduate students (n 494) at a large US Midwestern university. RESULTS: Rationale type was significantly associated with differences in participants' purchasing intentions for the full sample (F 7,485=2·53, P=0·014). Presenting the rationale for an SSB price increase as a user fee, an effort to reduce obesity, a strategy to offset health-care costs or to protect children led to lower SSB purchasing intentions compared with a message with no rationale. Rationale type was also significantly associated with differences in perceptions of soda companies (F 7,485=2·10, P=0·043); among low consumers of SSB, messages describing the price increase as a user fee or tax led to more negative perceptions of soda companies. CONCLUSIONS: The rationale attached to an SSB price increase could influence consumers. However, these message effects may depend on individuals' level of SSB consumption.

Quantification of vertical ground reaction forces of popular bilateral plyometric exercises.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the vertical ground reaction forces (VGRFs) developed during the performance of popular bilateral plyometric movements. Fourteen power-oriented track and field men of collegiate and national level randomly performed 3 trials of 9 different bilateral plyometric exercises in a single testing session. Three depth drop (DD) and 3 depth jump (DJ) conditions from 30, 60, and 90 cm heights (DD30, DD60, and DD90 and DJ30, DJ60, and DJ90) were tested, in addition to vertical jump (VJ), standing long jump (SLJ), and 2 consecutive jump (2CJ) conditions. Peak impact VGRFs were normalized to body weight. Additionally, all conditions were compared against the VJ in an intensity index. The SLJ condition resulted in a significantly higher peak VGRF than the 2CJ condition (p < or = 0.05). 90DD, 90DJ, 60DD, and SLJ had a significantly greater peak VGRF (5.39, 4.93, 4.30, and 4.22 times body weight, respectively) than the VJ condition (3.34 times body weight). The 30DJ condition had an insignificantly smaller peak VGRF (2.78 times body weight) when compared with the VJ. Practitioners may use these findings to more effectively progress athletes in these movements based on their intensities.

Dimensionality and reliability of a modified version of Norton's 1983 Quality Marriage Index among expectant and new Canadian mothers'.

A slightly modified version of Norton's 1983 Quality Marriage Index was administered to 61 expectant mothers prior to giving birth and within 3 mo. after giving birth. Mothers' ages ranged from 19 to 43 years (M = 30, SD = 5.01) and their partners' ages ranged from 21 to 48 years (M = 32, SD = 6.02). Mothers were presented an opportunity to participate in this study during prenatal classes held at hospital and community health centers. The only requirement for participation was that the mother be residing with her child's father for the duration of the study. The six items of the modified index showed high internal consistency (alpha > .90) and substantial test-retest reliability with a Pearson zero-order correlation of .65 across the two administrations. Maximum likelihood factor analysis indicated moderate support for unidimensional factor structure for the modified index, but removing one item from the pre- and postnatal administration improved the factor structure. In the first administration, the last item (overall current satisfaction with partner) fit poorly with the factor structure, while at the second administration, the second item (our relationship is very stable) fit poorly. Possible implications of the results are discussed.