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.