Soft drink consumption and mental health problems among adults in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between soft drink consumption and mental health problems, including self-reported doctor-diagnosed anxiety, stress-related problem and depression, suicidal ideation and psychological distress, among adults in South Australia.


METHODS
Data were collected using a risk factor surveillance system. Each month a representative random sample of South Australians was selected from the Electronic White Pages with interviews conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing.


METHODS
South Australia.


METHODS
Participants were aged 16 years and above.


RESULTS
Among 4741 participants, 12.5% reported daily soft drink consumption of more than half a litre. High levels of soft drink consumption were positively associated with depression, stress-related problem, suicidal ideation, psychological distress and a current mental health condition, but not anxiety. Overall, 24.0% of those having suicidal ideation reported consuming more than half a litre of soft drink per day. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, those who consumed more than half a litre of soft drink per day had approximately 60% greater risk of having depression, stress-related problem, suicidal ideation, psychological distress or a current mental health condition, compared with those not consuming soft drinks. The soft drink to total fluid consumption ratio had similar associations with mental health problems.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a positive association between consumption of soft drinks and mental health problems among adults in South Australia.
Shi
Zumin
Z
Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, PO Box 287, Rundle Mall, South Australia 5000, Australia. zumin.shi@health.sa.gov.au
Taylor
Anne W
AW
Wittert
Gary
G
Goldney
Robert
R
Gill
Tiffany K
TK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013021:South Australia; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult