Perceived Stress, Energy Drink Consumption, and Academic Performance Among College Students

OBJECTIVE: This study explored relationships regarding perceived stress, energy drink consumption, and academic performance among college students. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included 136 undergraduates attending a large southern plains university. METHODS: Participants completed surveys including items from the Perceived Stress Scale(1) and items to describe energy drink consumption, academic performance, and demographics. RESULTS: Positive correlations existed between participants' perceived stress and energy drink consumption. Participants' energy drink consumption and academic performance were negatively correlated. Freshmen (M = 0.330) and sophomores (M = 0.408) consumed a lower number of energy drinks yesterday than juniors (M = 1.000). Males reported higher means than females for selected energy drink consumption items. Statistically significant interactions existed between gender and year in school for selected energy drink consumption items. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirm gender differences in energy drink consumption and illuminate a need for education regarding use of energy drinks in response to perceived stress.