This study's aim was to clarify the effects of age and gender on attitudes towards sweet foods among Japanese older than 18 years.
A principal component factor analysis of questionnaire data from 426 Japanese (195 males, 231 females) revealed the three factors: positive cognition, negative cognition (both containing positive and negative beliefs about sweetness) and affect (feelings pertaining to sweetness). Using 2 x 3 ANOVAs (male/female gender x three age groups) higher scores on both the cognition factors and the affect factor as well as on the reported amount of consumed sweet foods were found among females. Younger respondents had more positive feelings for sweetness and reported consuming more sweet foods than respondents from the other two age groups. A path analysis showed that sweet foods consumption was determined mainly by affect in young people and by positive cognition in the other two age groups. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.