Perceptions of tap water and school water fountains and association with intake of plain water and sugar-sweetened beverages

Abstract

Background: Little is known regarding youth perceptions of tap water and school water fountains and how these relate to water and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake.

Methods: We used national 2010 YouthStyles data to assess perceptions of tap water and school water fountains and associations with water and SSB intake.

Results: Nearly 1 in 5 participants disagreed their tap water was safe and nearly 2 in 5 disagreed school water fountains were clean and safe. Perceived tap water risk was more prevalent among non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks (26.4%) and Hispanics (28.3%) compared with NH Whites (14.7%, p < .001) and more prevalent among lower-income youth. Negative water fountain perceptions were more common among high school-aged youth. Perceived tap water risk was not associated with SSB intake (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6, 1.5) or water intake (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.9, 2.1). Negative water fountain perceptions were associated with SSB intake only among Hispanics (race/ethnicity interaction p < .001; OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.6) but were not associated with water intake.

Conclusion: Negative perceptions of tap water and water fountains among youth are common and should be considered in efforts to provide water in schools.

Keywords: nutrient and diet; policy; public health; sugar-sweetened beverages.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: None of the authors has conflicts of interest to declare.

Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Figures

Figure 1

Conceptual Model for the Relationship of Water Perceptions with SSB and Water Intake Among Youth