Consumption of Energy Drinks among Undergraduate Students in Taiwan: Related Factors and Associations with Substance Use

Yen-Jung Chang, Ching-Yi Peng and Yu-Ching Lan
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Yen-Jung Chang: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Section 1, Heping E. Rd., Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Ching-Yi Peng: Department of Senior Citizen Service Management, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, No.1, Xinxing Rd., Xinfeng Township, Hsinchu County 304, Taiwan
Yu-Ching Lan: Department of Health Risk Management, China Medical University, No.91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung City 404, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: Background : This study aimed to investigate the consumption of energy drinks and associated factors among undergraduate students in Taiwan. Methods : Data came from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015. Eligible participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing use and perceptions of energy drinks, tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut. Results : Among 606 surveyed undergraduate students, 24.8% reported consuming energy drinks in the past 30 days. The major reasons for use included keeping alert at work (48.7%), being curious about the products (32.0%), enjoying the flavor (31.3%), or preparing for school exams (26.7%). Among energy drink users, half have never read the nutrition label, and 15.3% reported that they had ever mixed energy drinks with alcohol. Most participants showed negative attitudes toward using tobacco, alcohol, or betel nut, while 54.1% reported positive attitudes toward consuming energy drinks. Being male, living away from parents’ home, tobacco use, alcohol use, and positive perceptions of energy drink’s effects significantly predicted energy drink consumption. Conclusions : In addition to exploring motivations of energy drink consumption in undergraduate students in Taiwan, the study findings indicated that energy drink consumption might relate to the use of tobacco and alcohol, which should be taken into account in substance use prevention programs.

Keywords: energy drinks; substance use; undergraduate students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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