Background
Added sugar intake in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) has
been considered a contributor to weight gain and cardiometabolic dysfunction
in adults and youth. Adolescents are some of the highest consumers of added
sugars, taking in ~16% of their total calories from added sugars with ~40%
of these calories coming from SSB. Youth’s food preferences and
self-regulation of dietary intake can be influenced by parents.
Objective
To evaluate the Theory of Planned Behavior’s (TPB)
effectiveness in understanding and predicting adolescents' SSB consumption,
identify which constructs are the most important when evaluating SSB
consumption in adolescents, and determine if and how adolescents' beverage
choices are influenced by parents' reactions to their beverage choices.
Design
Measurements for this cross-sectional study included four
record-assisted 24-hour dietary recalls and responses to a SSB-specific TPB
questionnaire from 100 adolescents. Consenting parents completed a beverage
intake questionnaire, a TPB questionnaire, and Parent Response to Beverage
Choice Questionnaire.
Results
The TPB explained 34% of the variance in adolescents' and parents'
intention to limit SSB to less than one cup per day. Parents' perceived
behavioral control (b=1.35, p=0.002) and
adolescents' subjective norms (b=0.57,
p=0.001) were the strongest predictors of intention, and
intention was the strongest predictor of SSB consumption in both adolescents
and parents (b=−37, p=0.026,
b=−49, p=0.003). The TPB
explained more variance in parent SSB consumption
(R2=0.38) than adolescents
(R2=0.22). Parents did more discouraging of
SSB and encouraging of non-SSB. Adolescents' intention to limit SSB
moderated the relationship between parents' reactions encouraging SSB and
adolescents' predicted SSB consumption (p=0.021).
Conclusions
The TPB explained a small, but significant amount of variance in
adolescents' SSB consumption. When addressing adolescent SSB intake, people
in addition to parents may influence their intentions and SSB
consumption.