Use pattern and predictors of use of highly caffeinated energy drinks among South Korean adolescents: a study using the Health Belief Model

Abstract

ObjectivesConcerns about the use of highly caffeinated energy drinks among Korean adolescents remains. We compared adolescents’ perceptions regarding the use of drinks to their behaviours and factors.DesignA structured questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model was administered to 850 freshmen and sophomores at three high schools in Bucheon, South Korea. Benefits were defined as beneficial effects from the use of highly caffeinated energy drinks (eg, awakening from sleepiness) and harms as adverse effects of the drinks (eg, cardiac palpitation). Likelihood of action represents the likelihood of taking actions that are perceived to be more beneficial after comparison of the benefits and harms of caffeine use. Descriptive analysis was used to quantify the relationship between their beliefs about highly caffeinated energy drinks and their use. We conducted hierarchical logistic regression to compute ORs and 95% CIs for: (1) demographic factors, (2) health threat, (3) likelihood of action and (4) cues to act.ResultsAltogether, 833 students responded to the questionnaire (effective response rate=98.0%). About 63.0% reported use of highly caffeinated energy drinks and 35.2% had used them as needed and habitually. The more susceptible the respondents perceived themselves to be to the risk of using these drinks, the less likely they were to use them (OR: 0.73, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.06). The more severe the perception of a health threat, the less that perception was associated with use (OR: 0.44, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.67). Likelihood of action was the strongest predictor of use, explaining 12.5% in use. Benefits and harms (OR: 4.43, 95% CI 2.77 to 7.09; OR: 1.86, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.99) also were significant predictors.ConclusionsEnhancing adolescents’ perceptions of benefits and harms regarding using highly caffeinated energy drinks could be an effective way to influence the use of these drinks.

Energy drink consumption among Australian adolescents associated with a cluster of unhealthy dietary behaviours and short sleep duration

“…Consistent with previous studies in Australia [ 62 ] and elsewhere [ 9 , 25 , 32 , 44 , 67 , 70 ], we found regular energy drink consumption was significantly higher among males at 8%. This is unsurprising given marketing for these products is heavily directed towards males, such as through sports and video games [ 20 , 21 , 71 ], and the gender difference in consumption is also observed in adults [ 72 ].…”

“…Raising adolescents’ awareness about the detrimental effects of energy drinks may also prove beneficial, with previous research finding that possessing such knowledge served as a barrier to consumption [ 9 , 20 , 70 ]. Currently among Australian adolescents there is a lack of awareness of energy drink ingredients and their actions [ 20 , 94 ], as well as confusion about serving size and recommended daily limit [ 20 , 62 ].…”

The Structural Equation Model of Intention to Discontinue Drinking Highly Caffeinated Beverage of Undergraduate Students

“…Perceived barriers also exert an effect by means of perceived behavioral control, along with perceived benefits. This is consistent with the findings of a prior study [30] suggesting that the benefits and risks associated with health threats of adolescents' high caffeine intake were the strongest predictor variables. A prior study [30] found that high caffeine drinkers were less likely to recognize the severity and likelihood of the risks of excessive caffeine intake than non-drinkers.…”

Korean nurses' energy drink consumption and associated factors

“…Our results are in agreement with those of another previous study (Bulut et al, 2014) reporting that having a friend who consumes energy drinks (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.6-5.0) was a factor affecting the energy drink intake of college students. In other previous studies (Ha et al, 2017;Kim et al, 2015), a positive awareness of energy drinks (OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.05-7.18) and the perception that the benefits outweigh the harms of consumption…”

“…Shift‐working nurses and prehospital emergency care personnel have a habit of consuming stimulant products such as caffeinated beverages (coffee and/or tea), energy drinks, and energy‐enhancing tablets to maintain arousal or enhance physical and mental performance (Pepłońska et al, 2019; Rooyen et al, 2021). There is a known tendency to consume energy drinks among individuals who have a low level of knowledge on energy drinks, who are oblivious to the risks of energy drinks, who do not perceive the threat of energy drinks to health, who perceive energy drink intake as highly beneficial, who perceive energy drink intake as having minimal harmful effects, and who least intend to discontinue energy drink intake (Ha et al, 2017; Mohammed et al, 2022; Subaiea et al, 2019).…”