The Relationships between Addiction to Highly Caffeinated Drinks, Burnout, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the addiction to highly caffeinated drinks among university students, and we investigated the relationships between smartphone addiction, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), burnout, self-esteem, impulsiveness in high caffeine drink addiction risk group (high caffeine group). We also compared these mental health factors differences between the high caffeine group and the control group; and, investigated the relative risk between the independent variables of the high caffeine group. METHODS: This study was conducted in Korea, from June 2015 to July 2016. A set of questionnaires was administered on 511 college students. RESULTS: The participants who belonged to the high caffeine group were more likely to demonstrate the symptoms of ADHD and higher levels of burnout and impulsiveness. Further, the results of logistic regression analysis confirmed the association between the high caffeine group and burnout. CONCLUSION: These behaviors among university students addicted to highly caffeinated drinks suggests the need for timely and effective interventions for those at risk of addiction.

Intake-related factors and educational needs regarding energy drinks in female high school students in the Incheon area / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate intake-related factors of energy drinks and educational needs regarding energy drinks in female high school students. METHODS: Subjects were 340 female high school students in Incheon, and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20.0 program. RESULTS: Subjects who had drunk energy drinks were 74.3% (249 subjects) of all subjects. The first time they drank an energy drink was significantly associated with grade (p < 0.05). In 75.1% of 249 subjects who had drunk energy drinks, the places for buying energy drinks were supermarkets and convenience stores near their homes. For the effects of energy drink intake, sleeplessness (44.6%) and no effect (41.7%) were cited, and 24.5% experienced side effects such as palpitation, tremors, etc. The scores for self-diagnosis of caffeine addiction were significantly higher in the low weight group compared to the overweight group (p < 0.05). The degree of caffeine addiction was significantly associated with effects of energy drink intake (p < 0.001) and type of side effects (p < 0.001). Willingness to stop consuming energy drinks (p < 0.001) and necessity of nutrition education about energy drinks (p < 0.05) were significantly lower in the caffeine addiction group compared to the general group. About 75.0% of subjects wanted to be educated about the side effects of energy drinks and caffeine. CONCLUSION: This study shows that female high school students need proper education about the effects of intake of energy drinks. Therefore, guidelines and a nutrition education program right intake of energy drinks should be provided as well as campaigns concerning the side effects of energy drinks and caffeine in female high school students.