title: A Survey of Energy Drink Consumption Patterns Among College Students at a Mostly Hispanic University.
abstract: Background:The purpose of this study was to determine energy drink (ED) consumption patterns among Hispanic college students. We measured the prevalence and frequency of ED consumption according to gender, degree programs, and specific university-related and social situations. In addition, we assessed the frequency of consumption of EDs mixed with alcoholic beverages.Methods:A total of 508 college students from the University of Puerto Rico, the largest Hispanic institution of higher education statewide, completed an online questionnaire.Results:Twenty-one percent of participants reported consuming EDs with the majority consuming EDs either occasionally (every 2-3 months) or at least once or twice a month. Men were found to be more likely to consume EDs than women. Undergraduate students were found less likely to consume EDs than graduate students. Most students consumed EDs while studying and during social activities. More than one-third of participants that consume EDs admitted mixing them with an alcoholic beverage. Graduate students were found to consume EDs mixed with alcohol more often.Conclusions:The majority of students consumed EDs occasionally and while studying. Most side effects reported after consuming EDs were similar to previous findings. The higher consumption of EDs and of EDs mixed with alcohol by students in graduate programs could be explained by a higher and more complex study load requiring longer periods of wakefulness and concentration. Future studies looking at the consumption patterns of EDs in more competitive graduate programs such as medical and/or dentistry school should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico , Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico .
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cabezas-Bou
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico , Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico .
authors.forename: Jeidiel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De León-Arbucias
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico , Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico .
authors.forename: Nikol
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matos-Vergara
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico , Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico .
authors.forename: Yocasta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Bagnarol
authors.affiliation: Institute for Psychological Research, University of Puerto Rico , Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico .
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortega-Guzmán
authors.affiliation: School Psychology Program, Albizu University, San Juan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narváez-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Institute for Psychological Research, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.; Department of Psychology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Nelson D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Cruz-Bermúdez
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.; Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz-Ríos
keywords: Hispanic; caffeine; college; energy drinks; students