Energy Drink Consumption Among Advanced Placement and Non-Advanced Placement High School Students

Introduction: Consumption of energy drinks by youth is a growing health concern, particularly among minority youth who are exposed to more advertisements for these beverages than their White counterparts. Despite the many negative correlates associated with energy drink consumption (i.e. heart palpitations, headaches), use rates remain high. Youth have reported use of energy drinks to complete schoolwork and study for exams; however, research suggests that energy drink use may be negatively associated with academic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the frequency and intensity of energy drink consumption differed among students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) or non-AP class at an ethnically diverse high school.

Methods: Participants included 441 upperclassmen enrolled in an AP (n=85) or non-AP (n=356) high-school history course (77.2% Hispanic, 13.8% African American, 6.4% White, 2.5% Other). Students self-reported past month (number of days consumed, 0-30 days) and past week (number of times consumed, 0-28) frequencies, and intensity (number usually consumed in one sitting, 0-5 drinks) of energy drink use. Independent t-tests were conducted to assess differences in energy drink consumption frequency and intensity between students enrolled in AP and non-AP classes.

Results: AP students consumed energy drinks on a significantly greater number of days in the past month (M = 3.44, SD = 5.18) as compared to non-AP students (M = 2.01, SD = 4.63) (p< .01). Additionally, AP students consumed energy drinks significantly more times in the past week (M = 2.00 SD = 2.66) as compared to non-AP students (M = .86, SD = 2.81) (p< .001). Finally, AP students consumed significantly more energy drinks in a usual sitting (M = 1.64, SD = .59) than non-AP students (M = .93, SD = .93) (p< .001). 

Conclusions: Previous research has suggested that energy drink consumption is associated with lower academic achievement; however this study found that students in an AP course were more likely to consume energy drinks more frequently and at a greater intensity than those students not in an AP course. While longitudinal research is needed to disentangle the directionality of effects between energy drink consumption and academic achievement, this study suggests that those students who are performing better academically are at greater risk for energy drink consumption. Given the many risk behaviors that are also associated with energy drink consumption (i.e. alcohol use), future research is needed to better understand energy drink consumption among youth.