Soft Drinks Consumption Is Associated with Behavior Problems in 5-Year-Olds

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.06.023

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 163, Issue 5, November 2013, Pages 1323-1328

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.06.023 Get rights and content

Objective

To examine soda consumption and aggressive behaviors, attention problems, and withdrawal behavior among 5-year-old children.

Study design

The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study is a prospective birth cohort study that follows a sample of mother-child pairs from 20 large US cities. Mothers reported children's behaviors using the Child Behavior Checklist at age 5 years and were asked to report how many servings of soda the child drinks on a typical day.

Results

In the sample of 2929 children, 52% were boys, 51% were African-American, 43% consumed at least one serving of soda per day, and 4% consumed 4 or more servings per day. In analyses adjusted for sociodemographic factors, consuming one (beta, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.1-1.4), 2 (beta, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.8-2.7), 3 (beta, 2.0; 95% CI, 0.6-3.4), or 4 or more (beta, 4.7; 95% CI, 3.2-6.2) servings was associated with a higher aggressive behavior score compared with consuming no soda. Furthermore, those who consumed 4 or more (beta, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.4) soda servings had higher scores on the attention problems subscale. Higher withdrawn behavior scores were noted among those consuming 2 (beta, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.3-1.8) or 4 or more (beta, 2.0; 95% CI, 0.8-3.1) soda servings compared with those who consumed no soda.

Conclusion

We note an association between soda consumption and negative behavior among very young children; future studies should explore potential mechanisms that could explain this association.

Section snippets

Methods

Analyses were conducted using public-use data available from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a prospective birth cohort study that follows a sample of mother–child pairs from 20 large US cities. Nonmarital births were oversampled relative to marital births at 3:1. The study is a joint effort by Princeton University's Center for Research on Child Wellbeing and Center for Health and Wellbeing, Columbia University's Social Indicators Survey Center, and the National Center for

Results

Table I shows the distribution of demographic data, soda consumption, and study covariates. Forty-three percent of the children consumed at least 1 serving of soda per day, and 4% consumed 4 or more servings per day. In bivariate analyses (data not shown), children's aggressive and withdrawn behaviors, as well as attention problems, were associated with sociodemographic factors, maternal depression, IPV, and paternal incarceration (all P < .05).

In unadjusted analysis, the overall aggression

Discussion

In this sample of nearly 3000 5-year-old children from cities across the US, 43% consumed at least 1 serving of soda per day, and 4% consumed 4 or more servings daily. Soda consumption was associated with higher aggression subscale scores in a dose-response pattern. These results remained significant after adjusting for: (1) the child's sex; (2) maternal race, education, and marital status; (3) receipt of public assistance; (4) fruit juice consumption; (5) candy/sweets consumption; (6) TV

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Soft Drink Consumption and Mental Health in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Examination
2021, Journal of Adolescent Health
Previous studies showed associations between soft drink consumption and mental health problems in adolescents, but the direction of these effects is unknown. This study examines the hypotheses that soft drink consumption predicts aggression and depressive symptoms over time and that these mental health problems predict soft drink consumption.
Interviews were conducted with 5,147 children and their caregivers from three sites at child ages 11, 13, and 16. At each time point, youth reported on their frequency of consuming soft drinks, aggressive behavior, and depressive symptoms. An autoregressive cross-lagged path model tested reciprocal relationships between soft drink consumption, aggressive behavior, and depressive symptoms over time.
More frequent consumption of soft drinks was associated with more aggressive behavior at each time point and depressive symptoms at ages 11 and 13 (r = .04 to .18, p ≤ .002). After adjusting for covariates and stability of each behavior over time, soft drink consumption at ages 11 and 13 predicted more aggressive behavior at the next time point (β = .08 and .06, p < .001). Aggressive behavior at age 13 also predicted more soft drink consumption at age 16 (β = .06, p = .002). Soft drink consumption at age 13 predicted fewer depressive symptoms (β = −.04, p = .007), but depressive symptoms did not predict soft drink consumption.
More frequent consumption of soft drinks may contribute to aggressive behavior in adolescents over time; there is some support for reciprocal relationships. There is no evidence for soft drink consumption contributing to adolescents' depression. Future research should examine longitudinal effects over shorter intervals.
Soft drink consumption and mental health problems: Longitudinal relations in children and adolescents
2020, Social Science and Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
Likewise, a heightened consumption of sugar contributes to the development of insulin resistance (Palanker Musselman et al., 2011), which is also associated with elevated depressive symptoms (Timonen et al., 2005). Moreover, some soft drinks such as cola and iced tea contain caffeine, which has been suspected to be a potential mediator for their effect on behavior problems including aggressive behavior in children (Suglia et al., 2013). At the same time, several cross-sectional studies have suggested increased soft drink consumption as a result of mental health problems.
Increased soft drink consumption has been proposed as both predictor and result of mental health problems. Although possible mechanisms for both directions have been suggested, understanding of the association is limited. Most previous research has been cross-sectional and could not assess directionality.
This study investigated the directionality of the association between soft drink consumption and mental health using longitudinal panel data of 5882 children and adolescents from the nationally representative German KiGGS baseline study (2003–2006) and KiGGS Wave 1 (2009–2012). Soft drink consumption and mental health problems were assessed by standardized questionnaire (baseline) and telephone interview (Wave 1). Four cross-lagged panel models were specified and compared regarding their fit indices. Specific paths were tested for significance.
Positive cross-sectional associations between soft drink consumption and mental health problems were found at both measurement points (ps < .01), even after controlling for third variables (including age, gender, and socioeconomic status). Only the lagged effect of mental health problems on soft drink consumption reached statistical significance (β = 0.031, p = .020), but not the effect in the opposite direction. The corresponding model also showed the best model fit overall.
Mental health problems predicted soft drink consumption over an average of six years, but not vice versa. These findings suggest that consuming soft drinks might be a dysfunctional strategy of coping with mental health problems for children and adolescents and highlight the importance of considering mental health problems in the prevention of soft drink overconsumption and obesity.
Sugar-sweetened beverages consumption are associated with behavioral problems among preschoolers: A population based cross-sectional study in China
2020, Journal of Affective Disorders
Citation Excerpt :
The level of consumption of SSB was positively associated with behavioral problems. One prospective birth cohort study from the US demonstrated that a high level of soft drink consumption may increase the risk of withdrawal behavior, aggression behavior and attention problems among 5-year-old children (Suglia et al., 2013). A study of adolescents in Norway showed a J-shaped dose-response association between sugar-containing soft drinks and mental health (Lien et al., 2006).
Previous researches showed a positive association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and behavioral problems, but there is a little known in Chinese preschoolers.
A population based survey was conducted in 109 kindergartens, in 11 cities across China. Children's SSB consumption was assessed by questionnaires completed by caregivers. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Clancy Autism Behavior Scale (CABS) were used to assessing the children's behavioral problems.
The prevalence of SSB consumption ≥ 1 time/day was 24.9%. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of having elevated total difficulties by increasing levels of SSB consumption were 1.00, 1.13 (1.05, 1.22) and 1.24 (1.10, 1.41) (P for trend < 0.001), respectivly. Similar results were found in emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems, and CABS. No significantly increased the risk of hyperactivity and prosocial were observed for higher SSB consumption. No gender differences were found in these associations.
This is a cross-sectional survey and the causal relationship is unclear.
Higher SSB consumption is positively associated with behavioral problems among preschoolers in China.
Dietary screening-questioning adolescent dietary trends and providing evidence-based dietary recommendations
2019, Adolescent Health Screening: An Update in the Age of Big Data
While the concepts of sound nutrition and eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods and being able to absorb them are not overly complex, adolescents still seem to have trouble adhering to them. Evidence suggests that sound nutrition is essential to prevent and minimize a multitude of chronic illnesses that develop later in life (Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids). In this chapter, we will examine the latest data on adolescent nutrition and process this information into a method whereby primary care providers may screen adolescents for nutritional “red flags.” Our aim in removing these dietary culprits is to improve short- and long-term health outcomes.
Parental Incarceration and Child Sleep and Eating Behaviors
2017, Journal of Pediatrics
To examine whether parental incarceration is significantly associated with a number of sleep and eating behaviors among offspring during early childhood.
Data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, an at-risk sample of parents and their offspring, were employed to test this possibility. Both maternal and paternal incarceration history were examined as predictors of whether children manifested high levels of the following 7 health behaviors: sleep problems, short sleep duration, salty snack consumption, starch consumption, sweets consumption, soda consumption, and fast food consumption. Logistic regression techniques were used to carry out the analyses.
Both maternal and paternal incarceration significantly increased the odds of a number of risky sleep and eating behaviors during childhood. Ancillary analysis also revealed that the predicted probability of exhibiting multiple risky behaviors across the sleep and eating domains was twice as large among children whose parents had both been incarcerated, relative to children whose parents had not been incarcerated.
Parental incarceration may have important implications for the sleep and eating behaviors of offspring. Both scholars and practitioners may, therefore, want to consider the possible negative repercussions of parental incarceration for the sleep and eating behaviors of children, and the potential for these high-risk health behaviors to compromise the health and well-being of children as they age.
Uric acid excretion predicts increased aggression in urban adolescents
2016, Physiology and Behavior
Citation Excerpt :
Purine rich foods, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, fatty meats, seafood, and alcohol, account for approximately one third of total uric acid production [7]. Interestingly, more frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked with more aggressive behavior in children adolescents [23,39–41]. The present results suggest that these effects may be partly explained by elevated uric acid levels.
Elevated levels of uric acid have been linked with impulsive and disinhibited behavior in clinical and community populations of adults, but no studies have examined uric acid in relation to adolescent aggression. This study examined the prospective role of uric acid in aggressive behavior among urban, low income adolescents, and whether this relationship varies by gender. A total of 84 adolescents (M age 13.36 years; 50% male; 95% African American) self-reported on their physical aggression at baseline and 1.5 years later. At baseline, the youth also completed a 12-h (overnight) urine collection at home which was used to measure uric acid excretion. After adjusting for baseline aggression and age, greater uric acid excretion predicted more frequent aggressive behavior at follow up, with no significant gender differences. The results suggest that lowering uric acid levels may help reduce youth aggression.

View all citing articles on Scopus

: The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD36916). The contents of the paper are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Health. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Original ArticleSoft Drinks Consumption Is Associated with Behavior Problems in 5-Year-Olds

Objective

Study design

Results

Conclusion

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Discussion

J Pediatr

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

Infant Behav Dev

Child Youth Serv Rev

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Bubbling over: soda consumption and its link to obesity in California

Policy Brief UCLA Cent Health Policy Res

The “Twinkie defense”: the relationship between carbonated non-diet soft drinks and violence perpetration among Boston high school students

Injury Prev

Original Article
Soft Drinks Consumption Is Associated with Behavior Problems in 5-Year-Olds