The role of decision-making and impulsivity in beverage consumption.

Soft drink and alcohol consumption have become significant public health issues. This study aimed to explore the mediating role of decision-making processes in the relationship between trait impulsivity and calorie dense beverage consumption. Participants comprised a community sample of 300 adults (aged 19-75). They completed self-report measures assessing impulsivity (SUPPS-P), reward sensitivity (RST-PQ), and participated in decision-making tasks related to risk propensity (BART), short-term strategy preference (IGT), and delay discounting rate. Beverage consumption was calculated using the BEVQ-15. Impulsivity was conceptualised within the framework of the two-factor model as consisting of rash impulsivity and reward sensitivity. Both facets of impulsivity were positively associated with both alcohol and soft drink consumption, and each independently predicted consumption of these beverages. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between rash impulsivity and reward sensitivity on soft drink consumption. Importantly, there were significant indirect effects of both rash impulsivity and reward sensitivity on soft drink consumption via delay discounting. The results support the logic of the two-factor model of impulsivity in the prediction of consumption of unhealthy beverages. Furthermore, the mediating role of delay discounting supports the hypothesis that personality traits can pass through to behaviour via decision-making processes. Further research should extend these findings to other consumption domains in both clinical and non-clinical populations.

The role of rash impulsivity and sensitivity to reward in soft drink consumption.

Soft drink consumption has become a major public health issue. The present study aimed to examine the role of rash impulsivity and reward sensitivity in soft drink consumption using the two-factor model of impulsivity. Participants were a community sample of 229 adults (19-77 years). They completed self-report measures of impulsivity (SUPPS-P), reward sensitivity (RST-PQ) and beverage consumption (BEVQ-15). A principal component analysis was used to produce purer measures of rash impulsivity and reward sensitivity. Both rash impulsivity and reward sensitivity were positively associated with soft drink consumption, and each independently predicted soft drink consumption. Importantly, there was a significant interaction between the two, whereby rash impulsivity moderated the effect of reward sensitivity on soft drink consumption. The results support the logic of the two-factor model of impulsivity in the prediction of soft drink consumption. Further research should extend these findings to other consumption domains in both clinical and non-clinical populations.