College students might be compromising their sleep by consuming excessive energy drinks daily. A recent study by Norwegian researchers highlights a connection between these widely consumed caffeinated beverages and insomnia.
Energy drinks use among students may cause insomnia
With an average of 150 milligrams of caffeine per liter, along with sugar, vitamins, and amino acids, these drinks are popular among young adults, particularly college students, as mental and physical energy boosters. However, the study underscores a notably detrimental impact on sleep caused by these beverages.
The researchers analyzed data from the SHOT22 study, encompassing 53,266 participants aged 18-35. The study examined energy drink consumption frequencies, ranging from daily to sometimes or never, alongside participants’ sleep patterns, such as bedtime routines, sleep onset time, and wakefulness instances after falling asleep.
The study found a significant link between higher energy drink intake and decreased sleep efficiency, as daily consumers slept about 30 minutes less than rare or non-consumers. Both genders experienced prolonged wakefulness and delayed sleep onset with increased energy drink consumption, leading to higher rates of insomnia, affecting 51% of women and 37% of men compared to occasional or non-consumers.
Reverse causality increases energy drink consumption
According to the study, even occasional energy drink consumption can increase risk of sleep problems. Men consuming energy drinks daily are twice as likely to report sleeping fewer than six hours per night, while women face an 87% higher likelihood of the same issue. It’s crucial to acknowledge that this research is observational and doesn’t establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
Reverse causality, where poor sleep might lead to increased energy drink consumption, is a potential factor. Additionally, the study relies on self-reported data and lacks precise information on the timing and quantity of energy drink consumption, emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation.
In spite of these constraints, scholars highlight the strong correlation between the frequency of consuming energy drinks and diverse sleep-related challenges. They propose that directing efforts towards addressing energy drink consumption may serve as an efficacious intervention approach for enhancing the quality of sleep among individuals in a college setting.
