OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of energy drinks, energy drink consumption behaviors, and associated factors among college students. METHODS A total of 536 students from three universities in Cheongju completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding awareness and consumption of energy drinks as well as general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and eating habits. RESULTS Approximately half of the respondents reported they knew what energy drinks were, while 45.7% had heard of energy drinks but did not know what they were. However, 76.9% had experience in using energy drinks. The main reason for using energy drinks was to stay awake, and the main place that they were used was on campus or at the library. More than 70% of energy drink users did not read the caffeine contents of energy drinks. After consuming energy drinks, 31.3% experienced adverse effects, the most serious being sleep disturbance. Approximately 33% of students consumed energy drinks once a month or more frequently, and men consumed energy drinks more frequently than females. Energy drink users who consumed at least one drink each month were more likely to be natural science major or drink more milk for male students, and to have more allowances or consume less meat for female students, compared with non-users. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that 33% of students consumed at least one energy drink each month, and there were a small number of students consumed energy drinks almost every day or energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Accordingly, college students should be taught potential health hazards of energy drinks mixed with alcohol as well as energy drinks alone. In addition, reading labels about caffeine and sugar contents in energy drinks is encouraged.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
The Impact of Promotional Activities on the Purchase and Repurchase Intention of Energy Drinks in Yemen Under Different Levels of Awareness of the Potential Adverse Effects Majid Mapkhot Goaill, Mohammed A. Al-Hakimi, Hamood Mohammed Al-Hattami, Mohsen Ali Murshid, Amal Al-Mogahed, Sharf Obad Sage Open.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Analysis of Usage, Preference, and Satisfaction for Convenience
Store Dessert among University Students in Chungbuk Area Go Eun Lee, Hye-In Yang, Yun-Jung Bae Journal of Biotechnology and Bioindustry.2021; 9: 63. CrossRef
Energy drinks Towhid Hasan, Marjia Sultana, Md. Tareq Hossain, Lima Khatun, Md. Alauddin Journal of Health Research.2020; 34(3): 221. CrossRef
Energy Drink Consumption and Dietary-, Lifestyle-, and Mental Health-Related Behaviors in Korean Adolescents: Based on the 10th–13th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey Jiwon Oh, Jayong Chung Korean Journal of Health Promotion.2019; 19(3): 145. CrossRef
Sleep Quality and Its Association with the Dietary Behavior and Lifestyle of University Students in Cheongju Sewhan Jin, Munkyong Pae Korean Journal of Community Nutrition.2019; 24(5): 395. CrossRef
Consumption of energy drink and associated factors Towhid Hasan, Marjia Sultana, Lincon Chandra Shill, Sara Sultana Nutrition & Food Science
.2019; 50(1): 131. CrossRef
Consumption Behaviors of Energy Drinks and Comparison of Associated Factors Among College Students in Gwangju DaWun Seo, Bok Hee Kim Korean Journal of Community Nutrition.2018; 23(4): 289. CrossRef