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Individuals’ perceptions of the factors linked to everyday soft drink consumption among university students: qualitative study
Soft drink consumption continues to rise globally, presenting an increasing threat to public health and overall well-being. Understanding the factors that drive soft drink consumption is essential for improving nutrition. This study By Sarhan et al. (2024) uses a qualitative approach to explore university students’ perceptions of the factors influencing daily soft drink consumption in Saudi Arabia. Nineteen college students from Saudi Arabia’s Al Madinah Province who all admitted to drinking soft drinks were chosen via the use of purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted both in-person and online over the course of three months to gather data, revealing that habit, price, taste, environment and social context, and health concerns were the five main themes that the study found to be impacting the consumption of soft drinks. It was also found that growing public awareness of health issues can lead to reduced soft drink consumption. A significant finding was that increasing health concerns among the public are driven by discussions surrounding healthy eating and the harmful effects of sugary soft drinks in society. In conclusion, the research emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to promoting healthier beverage choices and reducing soft drink consumption. Interventions that address factors such as habits, pricing, environmental and social contexts, health awareness, and taste preferences are likely to be more effective in decreasing soft drink consumption and improving nutritional habits. [NPID: Nutrition, health, environment, health promotion, diet]
Year: 2024
