257633 Impact of knowledge, attitudes, and peer influence on adolescent energy drink consumption

Monday, October 29, 2012

Julie Gast, PhD, MCHES , Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Alyson Ward, MS, CHES , Children's Health Study, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Jason Leiker, PhD , Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology, Utah State University, Logan, UT
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.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify 3 reasons why energy drink consumption is on the rise in youth 2. Identify the lack of FDA regulation of energy drink content. 3. Describe the usefulness of warning labels to decrease energy drink consumption in adolescents 4. Analyze the relationship between attitudes toward energy drink and consumption 5. Explain how peers influence consumption in an adolescent sample 6. Discuss ways school can limit energy drink consumption

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have presented regionally and nationally and published in peer reviewed professional journals the area of school heath. I have served as a moderator at APHA several times in the past. I have a PhD and am a certified health educator. I review abstracts for several journals and professional conferences. I am a faculty member at Utah State University in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.