Current sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and intentions to reduce consumption among young adult Latinas

Background Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption contributes to adverse health outcomes and disproportionately affects young adult Latinas in the United States. Aim This study examined the relationship between current SSB consumption and intention to reduce intake, with attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as mediators, and cultural values as a potential moderator. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among young adult Latinas ( N = 829; ages 18–29) in the United States. SSB consumption was assessed using the validated BEVQ-15 (15-item Beverage Intake Questionnaire). Path analysis was conducted to examine direct, indirect, and moderated associations. Summary Higher SSB consumption was associated with more negative attitudes (β = −0.006, p < 0.001) and lower perceived behavioral control (β = −0.008, p < 0.001), but was not directly associated with intention ( p = 0.76). Attitudes (β = 0.348, p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.166, p < 0.001), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.161, p < 0.001) were positively associated with intention to reduce SSB intake. Cultural values did not significantly moderate the relationship between consumption and intention ( p = 0.29), although they were negatively associated with intention (β = −0.143, p = 0.03). Findings highlight the importance of psychosocial determinants in shaping intentions to reduce SSB intake and suggest that interventions should address both behavioral patterns and contextual factors, particularly among high SSB consumers. These results inform culturally relevant strategies to reduce SSB consumption among Latina populations.