Associations of self-efficacy and perceived benefits and barriers with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption patterns: a secondary analysis of the 2017-2020 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT).

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contribute to excessive sugar intake and related health risks, with particularly high consumption levels observed in Taiwan. However, limited research has examined psychosocial factors associated with SSB consumption in large population-based surveys. This study examined SSB consumption patterns and their associations with psychosocial factors related to reducing SSB consumption, including self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2017-2020 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT). The analytic sample included 4,475 individuals aged 16-64 years, categorized as non-, low-, medium-, or high SSB consumers based on weekly consumption frequency derived from the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Psychosocial factors, including self-efficacy (assessed using a perceived difficulty item), perceived benefits, and perceived barriers, were assessed using the "dietary belief" questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between psychosocial factors and SSB consumption levels. Results: Most individuals were SSB consumers (88.6%), with 32.1% classified as high consumers (≥1 time/day). Self-efficacy and perceived benefit scores were highest among non- and low consumers, and lowest among high consumers, whereas perceived barrier scores increased with consumption level ( Conclusion: Higher self-efficacy (i.e., lower perceived difficulty) and lower perceived barriers were associated with lower SSB intake. These findings suggest that perceived capability and barriers related to reducing SSB consumption may be relevant factors associated with consumption patterns.