Energy Drink Use and Its Relationship to Masculinity, Jock Identity, and Fraternity Membership Among Men

Abstract

The present study examined whether previous findings linking masculinity constructs and health behaviors applied to a relatively recent health risk behavior for men, the consumption of energy drinks. In addition, it also examined whether self-identifying as a jock and being a member of a fraternity would moderate the relationships between masculinity constructs and energy drink consumption. A total of 589 men completed measures of three masculinity constructs (endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology, conformity to masculine norms, and gender role conflict), energy drink consumption, jock identity, and fraternity membership, in addition to a demographic questionnaire. Age, endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology, and conforming to the masculine norms of risk taking and primacy of work were identified to be significant predictors of energy drink consumption. Furthermore, jock identity moderated the relationship between the endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology and energy drink consumption whereas fraternity membership moderated the relationship between conforming to the masculine norm of violence and energy drink consumption. Limitations, implications, and potential future directions are discussed.

Energy Drinks Consumption amongst Medical Students and Interns from Three Colleges in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

“…The present results revealed that energy drink consumption was significantly higher among males compared to females. This finding agrees with results of many other studies [10,11,18,19,22]. A reason that can be given for the higher intake of energy drinks among males may be because Saudi females are less practicing physical activity than males and energy drinks are mostly marketed for increasing physical performance [8].…”

Review of the energy drink literature from 2013

“…In the USA, Wimer and Levant [17] surveyed 589 adult men 19-63 years of age to consider the relationships of masculinity, athlete identity, and fraternity membership to energy drink consumption. Almost half of those surveyed (48%) consumed energy drinks; most (40%) limited their use to one drink per day.…”

Moderated mediation of the relationships between masculinity ideology, outcome expectations, and energy drink use.

“…Miller (2008) also found that energy drink use was positively associated with the modified CMNI, and that the modified CMNI mediated the relationship between jock identity and energy drink consumption. Wimer and Levant (2013) found that age, endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology, and conforming to the masculine norms of risk taking and primacy of work were significant predictors of energy drink consumption among a sample of students and community men. Furthermore, jock identity moderated the relationship between the endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology and energy drink consumption whereas fraternity membership moderated the relationship between conforming to the masculine norm of violence and energy drink consumption.…”