Anxiety, depression, perceived executive function and sugar sweetened beverages: a causal mediation analysis in Mexican young adults

There is the notion that dysregulation of executive function (EF), which disrupts behavior and cognitive processes, may explain the emotional impairment which leads to increasing sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake. We aimed to test whether anxiety and depression mediate the association between self-reported problems in EF and sugar sweetened beverage intake in Mexican adults between 18-40 years. An open survey advertised as a 'mental health and sugar sweetened beverages study' was conducted, participants were recruited through Facebook ads. Males and females, between 18-40 years, able to read and write, and currently residing in Mexico were included. We analyzed data using causal mediation analysis with latent variables using a structural equation modelling framework. Significant indirect effects were found for somatic symptoms of depression (beta = 6.601, SE = 2.657, p < .05) and anxiety (beta = .679, SE =.334, p < .05). In depression model no significant direct effects of EF were found in the depression model, however they were found in the anxiety model (beta = 1.335 SE =.566, p < .05). Somatic symptoms of depression were a total mediator, and anxiety a partial mediator. The results suggest that EF increased the probability of emotional symptoms, which led to a higher consumption of SBBs