Children’s sweet tooth: Explicit ratings vs. Implicit bias measured by the Approach avoidance task (AAT)

The study aimed to assess the application of Approach avoidance task (AAT) with children measure implicit motivational tendencies towards foods differing in sweetness and calorie content explore relationship between approach bias explicit measurements expected liking, attitudes, hunger state their relation paired-preference tasks. simplicity game-like procedure AAT, where participants use a joystick pull or push pictures, seems particularly suitable biases children. However, our knowledge, this has not been used food related context. Children aged 9–11 participated (n = 114). Their pictures snacks was measured via AAT. test instruction based on pushing pulling according picture category, vs. non-food: (18 snack varying calorie) non-food visually similar respective stimuli). Further, rated liking answered an attitude questionnaire health sugar consumption, completed two paired preference tests tasting real samples under blind condition choosing no-sugar added chocolate milk take-home pack. percentage non-valid AAT responses relatively high, leading low testing power. There significant difference pictures; positive for slightly negative non-food. Within no effect nor found. Nevertheless, children’s were linked ratings, which revealed clear high snacks. Individual differences but attitudes milk, indicating relevance situational choices. In present study, questionnaire-based (affective cognitive sugar, craving using as reward) however associated (blind and/or informed). Higher scores subscales sweet food, reward, affective higher odds choose milk. Methodological considerations recommendations regards approach-avoidance are critically discussed.