Impact of knowledge, attitudes, and peer influence on adolescent energy drink consumption

Caffeine and sugar consumption in the form of soda and energy drinks is on the rise in youth. However, unlike soda, energy drinks are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore do not have to limit caffeine content. There are a number of health and academic performance implications for adolescents and the consumption of energy drinks (e.g., sleep disruption, cognitive and physical performance, and dependence). Research is limited on adolescent energy drink consumption. This study sought to determine correlates of energy drink consumption in an older adolescent population using a self-report survey (n=199). Of specific interest were adolescent knowledge, attitudes, and peer influence and their impact on consumption. Using binary logistic regression, it was determined that having seen warning labels on energy drink cans significantly reduced the odds that the participant would consume energy drinks (p<.05). Interestingly, having a negative attitude toward caffeine increased the odds the individual would consume energy drinks (p<.05). The more participants disagreed that they drank energy drinks with friends, the more likely they were to consume energy drinks (p<.01). Also, being male was a strong predictor of energy drink consumption (p<.05). The Social Cognitive Theory of reciprocal determinism was used in the research design and interpretation of results, specifically how personal and environmental factors influence energy drink use of adolescents. Schools must address the issue of energy drink use in that they are being consumed on the school campus, in particular by males and young athletes and are heavily marketed to youth.