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Promoting healthy foods in the new digital era on Instagram
- Source :
- BMC Public Health, 20, BMC Public Health, Vol 20, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2020), BMC Public Health. BMC, BMC Public Health
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- BackgroundMost studies on social influencer marketing techniques have focused on the promotion of unhealthy foods whereas little is known about the promotion of healthier foods. The present experimental study investigated whether a popular real versus fictitious fit influencer is more successful in promoting healthy food products. In addition, we examined the role of parasocial interaction as an underlying mechanism of healthy food product endorsement.MethodsWe used a randomized between-subject design with 154 participants (mean age: 24.0 years). Viewers’ product attitude and purchase intention were tested after exposure to an Instagram post by a popular real fit influencer (n = 77) or fictitious fit influencer (n = 77).ResultsResults showed that parasocial interaction mediated the relation between the type of influencer and product attitude as well as purchase intention. Parasocial interaction was higher for participants exposed to the popular real fit influencer compared to the fictitious fit influencer, leading to higher healthy food brand attitude and purchase intention.DiscussionThe findings showed that it is crucial for social influencers to establish a warm personal relationship and connection with the their followers when promoting a healthy product successfully. We suggest that the promotion of healthy foods could be more successful in public health when using popular fit influencers.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Digital era
Healthy foods
media_common.quotation_subject
Parasocial interaction
050801 communication & media studies
Intention
Healthcare improvement science Radboud Institute for Health Sciences [Radboudumc 18]
Young Adult
0508 media and communications
Promotion (rank)
All institutes and research themes of the Radboud University Medical Center
0502 economics and business
Humans
Medicine
Product (category theory)
Product endorsement
media_common
Marketing
Public health
business.industry
Social influencers
lcsh:Public aspects of medicine
05 social sciences
Personal relationship
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Mean age
Advertising
lcsh:RA1-1270
Consumer Behavior
Influencer marketing
Communication and Media
Attitude
Food
050211 marketing
business
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712458
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Public Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0e002e05b5d116d7212d43215f3fa66b