applying multi-theory model (mtm) of health behavior change to predict water consumption instead of sugar-sweetened beverages

background: a substantial proportion of college students to not drink enough water and consume sugar-sweetened beverages (ssbs). consumption of ssbs is associated with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dental carries, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. hence, the purpose of this study was to use the multi-theory model (mtm) in predicting initiation and sustenance of plain water consumption instead of sugar-sweetened beverages among college students. study design: a cross-sectional study. methods: in this cross-sectional study, a 37-item valid and reliable mtm-based survey was administered to college students in 2016 via qualtrics at a large public university in the southeastern united states. overall, 410 students responded to the survey; of those, 174 were eligible for the study and completed it. results: stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that 61.8% of the variance in the initiation of drinking plain water instead of ssbs was explained by behavioral confidence (p <0.001) and changes in the physical environment (p <0.001). further, 58.3% of the variance in the sustenance of drinking plain water instead of ssbs was explained by emotional transformation (p <0.001) and practice for change (p =0.001). conclusions: multi-theory model of health behavior change is a robust theory for predicting plain water consumption instead of ssbs in college students. interventions should be developed based on this theory for this target population.