Trying to Keep Up: Energy Drink Consumption, Student Involvement, and Sleep among Diverse College Freshmen
Authors: Bender Rebecca , Brennhofer Stephanie , Mason Maureen , Bruening Meg 
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

While extensive research has been conducted among college students consuming alcohol with energy drinks, there is limited research exploring how extracurricular activities could have an impact on energy drink consumption and sleep. Understanding the association between student involvement and the impact it could have on sleep and energy drink consumption among college freshmen is essential in promoting healthy behaviors while in college.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to understand the association between energy drink consumption, student involvement, and sleep among college freshmen living in residence halls at a large, public university in the Southwest. We hypothesized that student involvement and fewer hours of sleep were related to higher energy drink consumption.

METHODS

This study was a secondary data analysis of the second wave of the longitudinal SPARC (Social impact of Physical Activity and nutRition in College) study assessing college freshmen (n=599; 70.6% female; 50.9% non‐white) living on campus. Students were enrolled in study during the 2015–2016 school year. Mutually adjusted GEE binomial models examined the relationship between involvement (academic clubs, sport clubs, honors, taking 16 or more credit hours, and having a job) and sleep with energy drink consumption, controlling for gender, race/ethnicity, Pell grant status, ever having tried alcohol, and clustering of students in residence halls.

RESULTS

On average, students were enrolled in 15 credits, those who had a job worked 14 hours for pay per week, slept an average 8 hours per night, and 35% reported consuming energy drinks in the past week. More males drank energy drinks compared to females (p=0.001); fewer Hispanic students drank energy drinks compared to white students (p=0.045), but more black students drank energy drinks compared to white students (p=0.008). There was a 17% difference in the predicted prevalence of energy drink consumption, where 20% of honors students reported consuming energy drinks compared to 37% of non‐honors students (p<0.001). Average hours of sleep per night was inversely associated with energy drink consumption (p=0.001). There was no difference in the predicted prevalence in energy drink consumption and being involved in academic (p=0.554) or sport (p=0.623) clubs, having a job (p=0.356), or taking 16 or more credit hours (p=0.057).

CONCLUSIONS

No associations were observed between involvement in student activities and energy drink consumption, with the exception of enrollment in the honor's college, contrary to our hypothesis. Future research should delve deeper into student involvement within honors programs to understand the contextual factors of why these students showed a significant inverse association in energy drink consumption. Supporting our hypothesis, there was an inverse association between sleep and energy drink consumption; future research should examine why students are consuming energy drinks since on average participants were meeting recommended sleep guidelines. Nutrition interventions are needed for the groups at highest energy drink consumption.

Support or Funding Information

This study was supported by the NIH Common Fund from the Office of the Director and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, grant number 1DP5OD017910‐01 (PI: M. Bruening). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Health.