April 4-6, 2024 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Innovations in Health Communication
Innovations in Health Communication
Abstract: Drinking to Win: Competitiveness as a Moderator of Athletic Identity and Sugar Sweetened Beverage Consumption
Although consumption of some sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), like diet and non-diet sodas, sweetened teas, and fruit drinks (Valenzuela et al., 2021) has declined in recent years, sport drinks consumption has remained high and energy drink consumption is increasing in the United States (Vercammen et al., 2019) with highest levels of consumption by adolescents (Bennett et al., 2021). Consumption of SSBs is associated with adverse health outcomes, including obesity and weight gain (Calcaterra et al., 2023), dental caries (Marshall, 2013), type 2 diabetes (Basdeki et al., 2023), metabolic syndrome (Munoz-Cabrejas et al., 2023), and weakened bone health (Ahn & Park, 2021). Research shows that higher athletic identity (Ellithorpe et al., 2022) and increased participation in sport (Nelson et al., 2011) are associated with higher SSB consumption in adolescents. This relationship has been attributed to beliefs about sport and energy drinks’ performance-enhancement (Pfender et al., 2023), and hydration and recovery benefits (Ellithorpe et al., 2022; Shirreffs, 2009). Competitiveness, or the will to win, is a trait which has been associated with pushing one’s body to its limits (Robertson, 2003) as well as engaging in health risks to reach an accomplishment (Sparkes & Stewart, 2019; Von Burg & Johnson, 2009), yet has not been examined in the context of its relationship to SSB consumption. This study examined the influence of competitiveness on the relationship between athletic identity and sport involvement and consumption of sport and energy drinks.
Participants (n = 504) of an online national survey were U.S adolescents (14-18 years old) recruited from a combination of probability and non-probability samples. Results found main effects between competitiveness and sport drink consumption were not significant. However main effects between competitiveness and energy drink consumption were significant (ß = 0.06, p < .05). Results of a moderation analysis indicated that higher competitiveness moderated the positive association between athletic identity and consumption of energy drinks (ß = .0013, p < .05), in that the relationship was stronger among those with high competitiveness. Competitiveness did not have a moderating effect on the associations between athletic identity or sport involvement on sport drink consumption. The influence of competitiveness on sport drink consumption for athletes was not significant, demonstrating support for this health behavior as an athlete norm.
Findings suggest that adolescent athletes with higher competitiveness may engage more in health behaviors perceived as riskier, such as energy drink consumption, likely to gain a performance edge. Advertisements of energy drinks position their consumption as in line with participation in extreme or risky sports (Bleakley et al., 2022). Additionally, Maloney et al. (2023) found that individuals perceive energy drinks as having health risks that come with their perceived benefits. Despite the known risk associated with energy drink consumption, adolescents high in athletic identity and high in competitiveness are more likely to consume these beverages. Both the normalized consumption of sport drinks for athletes and increased consumption of energy drinks for highly competitive athletes warrant future evidence-based intervention research on health messaging and nutrition education for adolescents.
Participants (n = 504) of an online national survey were U.S adolescents (14-18 years old) recruited from a combination of probability and non-probability samples. Results found main effects between competitiveness and sport drink consumption were not significant. However main effects between competitiveness and energy drink consumption were significant (ß = 0.06, p < .05). Results of a moderation analysis indicated that higher competitiveness moderated the positive association between athletic identity and consumption of energy drinks (ß = .0013, p < .05), in that the relationship was stronger among those with high competitiveness. Competitiveness did not have a moderating effect on the associations between athletic identity or sport involvement on sport drink consumption. The influence of competitiveness on sport drink consumption for athletes was not significant, demonstrating support for this health behavior as an athlete norm.
Findings suggest that adolescent athletes with higher competitiveness may engage more in health behaviors perceived as riskier, such as energy drink consumption, likely to gain a performance edge. Advertisements of energy drinks position their consumption as in line with participation in extreme or risky sports (Bleakley et al., 2022). Additionally, Maloney et al. (2023) found that individuals perceive energy drinks as having health risks that come with their perceived benefits. Despite the known risk associated with energy drink consumption, adolescents high in athletic identity and high in competitiveness are more likely to consume these beverages. Both the normalized consumption of sport drinks for athletes and increased consumption of energy drinks for highly competitive athletes warrant future evidence-based intervention research on health messaging and nutrition education for adolescents.