Soda and Sports Drink Consumption and Life Stressors Among High School Students: Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023.

BACKGROUND

Life stressors might influence health behaviors, including frequent sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. We described associations between life stressors and soda/sports drink (SD) consumption among US high school students.

METHODS

We tested associations between life stressors and daily (≥ 1 time/day) and heavy daily (≥ 3 time/day) consumption of soda/SD using the 2023 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (daily n = 12,308; heavy daily n = 11,980). We calculated prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for grade, sex, weight perception, and race and ethnicity. Not experiencing the stressor was the reference group.

RESULTS

Daily consumption was significantly higher among those who experienced unstable housing (aPR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.2), lacking a household adult trying to meet basic needs (aPR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.5), bullying at school (aPR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.2, 1.4), missing school due to safety concerns (aPR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.5), or feeling unfairly disciplined at school (aPR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.3). Results for heavy daily consumption were similar.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE AND EQUITY: Initiatives to reduce soda/SD consumption could benefit students with relatively high consumption prevalence, including those experiencing life stressors.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of consuming soda/SD was higher among US high school students who experienced life stressors than those who did not.