Racial Disparities in Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Change Efficacy Among Male First-Year College Students.
Racial disparities in weight-related outcomes among males may be linked to differences in behavioral change efficacy; however, few studies have pursued this line of inquiry. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which self-efficacy associated with changing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption intake varies by race among male first-year college students. A self-administered, cross-sectional survey was completed by a subsample of freshmen males (N = 203) at a medium-sized southern university. Key variables of interest were SSB intake and self-efficacy in reducing consumption of sugared beverages. African American and Whites had similar patterns of SSB intake (10.2 ± 2.8 vs. 10.1 ± 2.6); however, African Americans had lower proportions of individuals who were sure they could substitute sugared beverages with water (42.2% vs. 57.5%, p < .03). The results from logistic regression models suggest that self-efficacy to reduce SSB intake among males vary by race. African American males were less likely to assert confidence in their ability to change behaviors associated with SSB (odds ratio = 0.51; confidence interval [0.27, 0.95]) in the full model adjusting for weight-related variables including SSB consumption. The findings suggest that weight loss and weight prevention interventions targeting young African American males require components that can elevate self-efficacy of this group to facilitate behavioral modifications that reduce SSB consumption and their risk for obesity-related diseases.
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA marino.a.bruce@jsums.edu.
Marino A
MA
Bruce
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
Bettina M
BM
Beech
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Roland J
RJ
Thorpe
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Derek M
DM
Griffith
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D019422:Dietary Sucrose
change efficacy; college health; health behavior; men’s health; obesity; population health; racial disparities