Epidemiology and Health

Original Article

Behavioral and psychosocial factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among Korean adolescents: a path analysis using the 2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Hye-Young Park, Soo Rack Ryu, Hoon-Ki Park, Hwan-Sik Hwang, Kye-Yeung Park; Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025047. Published online August 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025047

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Rising obesity rates among adolescents are a major global health concern and are closely linked to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). This study aimed to identify key behavioral and psychosocial factors influencing SSB consumption among adolescents.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which included 49,548 participants aged 12-18 years. Information on SSB consumption frequency, socio-demographic characteristics, eating habits, sedentary behaviors, and other health-related factors was collected through self-administered questionnaires. Path analysis was used to model SSB consumption and estimate the direct and indirect effects of modifiable factors.

RESULTS

Male students, current alcohol drinkers, those with higher frequencies of fast-food or late-night snack consumption, and heavy smartphone users were more likely to frequently consume SSBs. Fast-food intake had the strongest direct effect on SSB consumption (B=0.3884), while nighttime eating showed a substantial direct effect (B=0.1437) and mediated 21.7% of the relationship between fast-food intake and SSB consumption. Leisure sitting time exerted both direct (B=0.0741) and indirect effects on SSB intake, mediated through watching mukbang, smartphone use, fast-food consumption, and nighttime eating. Self-perceived health status was negatively associated with SSB consumption (B=-0.0619), with indirect effects mediated by fast-food intake and nighttime eating.

CONCLUSIONS

Among Korean adolescents, SSB consumption was strongly associated with unhealthy eating patterns and prolonged leisure sitting time. Increased fast-food consumption, nighttime eating, watching mukbang, smartphone use, and negative self-perceived health status not only directly influenced SSB intake, but also acted as mediating factors.

Summary

Korean summary
바람직하지 않은 식습관과 과도한 스마트폰 사용은 한국 청소년의 당음료 섭취와 밀접한 관련이 있습니다. 특히 패스트푸드와 야식은 주요한 매개 요인으로 작용하여, 이러한 행동을 줄이면 당음료 섭취를 효과적으로 낮출 수 있습니다. 본 연구는 청소년을 위한 맞춤형 공중보건 개입 전략 수립에 근거를 제공합니다.

Key Message
Unhealthy eating behaviors and excessive screen time are strongly linked to sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among Korean adolescents. Fast-food intake and nighttime snacking act as major mediators, suggesting that reducing these behaviors could significantly decrease SSB intake. These findings provide evidence to guide targeted public health interventions for adolescents.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, waist-to-height ratio and psychological symptoms among Chinese adolescents
Lu Li, Ting Wei, Feng Zhang, Tianyu Zhou
Scientific Reports.2026;[Epub] CrossRef

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