Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on overall and examsrelated energy drinks consumption among students of the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Keywords:
University students, energy drinks, academic activities, COVID-19 pandemicAbstract
Background. A pilot study conducted in academic 2017/18 among undergraduates of the University of Sarajevo showed energy drinks to be most frequently consumed during academic activity, less frequently mixed with alcohol in leisure, and rarely in the sports activity. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on energy drinks consumption among undergraduates of the same University, with a focus on their consumption during exams.
Study design. A cross-sectional study was conducted by an online questionnaire.
Methods. The questionnaire, mainly based on the Consortium Nomisma-Areté questionnaire, was customized to compare energy drinks consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and distributed among students between July 26th, 2020 and April 3rd, 2021.
Results. Out of 1,045 students who chose to participate in the study (participation rate of 14.7%), 653 students, mostly women, attending the lower study years, reported energy drinks consumption. Both before and during pandemic, overall energy drinks consumption was most frequently reported as rare [281 (43.9%) before, 326 (51.2%) during the pandemic], and exams-related energy drinks consumption as once or twice a week [156 (43.8%) before, 130 (42.1%) during pandemic]. The pandemic increased the number of frequent consumers (consumption of 4–5 energy drinks per week) in both overall [35 (5.5%) before, 46 (7.2%) during pandemic] and exams-related energy drinks consumption [42 (11.8%) before, 48 (15.5%) during pandemic]. Study year (OR=0.842; 95% CI 0.77–0.921; p<0.001), being single and living alone [OR=0.512; 95% CI 0.296–0.883; p=0.016), or living with a partner and children [OR=0.377; 95% CI 0.168–0.847; p=0.018) were identified as negative independent predictors for exams-related energy drinks consumption, while being a regular smoker (OR=0.429; 95% CI 0.223–0.875; p=0.011) appeared its new negative independent predictor during pandemic.
Conclusions. The pandemic seemed to decrease both the overall and exam-related energy drinks consumption among undergraduates of the University of Sarajevo with the exception of a portion of already frequent energy drinks consumers.
References
1. Buchanan L, Yeatman H, Kelly B, Kariippanon K. Digital promotion of energy drinks to young adults is more strongly linked to consumption than other media. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2018 Oct; 50(9): 888-95. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2018.05.022.
2. Energy Drinks: Global Strategic Business Report. 2022. https://www.researchandmarkets. com/reports/5302365/energy-drinks-globalstrategic-business-report [Last accessed: 2023 February 22].
3. Alsunni AA. Energy Drink Consumption: Beneficial and Adverse Health Effects. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2015 Oct; 9(4): 468-74.
4. Ali F, Rehman H, Babayan Z, Stapleton D, Joshi DD. Energy drinks and their adverse health effects: A systematic review of the current evidence. Postgrad Med. 2015 Apr; 127(3): 308-22. doi: 10.1080/00325481.2015.1001712. Epub 2015 Jan 6.
5. De Giorgi A, Valeriani F, Gallè F, et al. Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks (AmED) Use among University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2022 Nov 24; 14(23): 4985. doi: 10.3390/nu14234985.
6. Protano C, Valeriani F, De Giorgi A, et al. Consumption patterns of energy drinks in university students: A systematic review and metaanalysis. Nutrition. 2023 Mar; 107: 111904. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111904. Epub 2022 Nov 3
7. Haroun HSW. Energy drinks: pros and cons. MOJ Anat & Physiol. 2019 March; 6(2): 49-53. doi: 10.15406/mojap.2019.06.00244.
8. Stanciak J, Boronova J, Vareckova L. Energy drinks consumption by students at Universities in Trnava. Postmod Openings. 2020 Sept; 11(2 Suppl 1): 16-25. doi: 10.18662/ po/11.2Sup1/176.
9. Šljivo A, Kulo A, Mrdović L, Muhić A, Dujić T, Kusturica J. Patterns of energy drinks consumption in leisure, sports and academic activities among a group of students attending University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ann Ig. 2020 Mar-Apr; 32(2): 141-56. doi: 10.7416/ ai.2020.2338.
10. Kim IK, Kim KM. Energy drink consumption patterns and associated factors among nursing students: a descriptive survey study. J Addict Nurs. 2015 Jan-Mar; 26(1): 24-31. doi: 10.1097/ JAN.0000000000000061.
11. Hutak JL, Boolani A, Byerley LO. Energy drink usage by students attending an online university. J Am Coll Health. 2022 Aug 23: 1-9. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2109036. Epub ahead of print.
12. Carton L, Cabé N, Ménard O, et al. Pharmaceutical cognitive doping in students: a chimeric way to get-a-head? Therapie. 2018 Sep; 73(4): 319-29. doi: 10.1016/j.therap.2017.10.006. Epub 2017 Nov 22.
13. Kusturica J, Hajdarević A, Nikšić H, Skopljak A, Tafi Z, Kulo A. Neuroenhancing Substances Use, Exam Anxiety and Academic Performance in Bosnian-Herzegovinian First-Year University Students. Acta Med Acad. 2019 Dec; 48(3): 28693. doi: 10.5644/ama2006-124.269.
14. Khalil M, Antoun J. Knowledge and consumption of caffeinated products by university students in Beirut, Lebanon. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Jun; 37: 213-17. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.02.014.
Epub 2020 Mar 13.
15. Kriaucioniene V, Bagdonaviciene L, RodríguezPérez C, Petkeviciene J. Associations between Changes in Health Behaviours and Body Weight during the COVID–19 Quarantine in Lithuania: The Lithuanian COVIDiet Study. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 13; 12(10): 3119. doi: 10.3390/ nu12103119.
16. Błaszczyk-Bębenek E, Jagielski P, Bolesławska I, Jagielska A, Nitsch-Osuch A, Kawalec P. Nutrition Behaviors in Polish Adults before and during COVID–19 Lockdown. Nutrients. 2020 Oct; 12(10): 3084. doi: 10.3390/nu12103084.
17. Bakaloudi DR, Evripidou K, Jayawardena R, et al. The Impact of Lockdowns on Caffeine Consumption: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 26; 19(9): 5255. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095255.
18. Górnicka M, Drywień ME, Zielinska MA, Hamułka J. Dietary and Lifestyle Changes During COVID-19 and the Subsequent Lockdowns among Polish Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey PLifeCOVID-19 Study. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 3; 3; 12(8):2324. doi: 10.3390/ nu12082324.
19. Szczepańska E, Janota B, Mąkosza K, Zięba N, Wlazło M, Czapla M. Consumption of selected groups of food products by medical and nonmedical students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2022; 73(2): 173-81. doi: 10.32394/rpzh.2022.0208.
20. Elsalem L, Al-Azzam N, Jum’ah AA, Obeidat N, Sindiani AM, Kheirallah KA. Stress and behavioral changes with remote E-exams during the Covid–19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study among undergraduates of medical sciences. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020 Dec; 60: 271-79. doi: 10.1016/ j.amsu.2020.10.058. Epub 2020 Nov 1.
21. Zucconi S, Volpato C, Adinolfi F, et al. (Internet). Gathering consumption data on specific consumer groups of energy drinks. EFSA Supporting Publications. Supporting Publications 2013: EN-394. (190 pp). Available on: https:// efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/ sp.efsa.2013.EN-394 [Last accessed: 2023, January 23].
22. Vitiello V, Diolordi L, Pirrone M, Donini LM, Del Balzo V. Energy drink consumption in Italian university students: food habits and lifestyle. Clin Ter. 2016 Nov-Dec; 167(6): 175-81. doi:
10.7417/CT.2016.1968.
23. Iurcov R, Pop LM, Iorga M. Impact of COVID19 Pandemic on Academic Activity and Health Status among Romanian Medical Dentistry Students; A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 4; 18(11): 6041. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18116041.
24. Malinauskas BM, Aeby VG, Overton RF, Carpenter-Aeby T, Barber-Heidal K. A survey of energy drink consumption patterns among college students. Nutr J. 2007 Oct 31; 6: 35.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-6-35.
25. Devi SSL, Abilash SC, Basalingappa S. The rationale of caffeine consumption and its symptoms during preparatory and non-preparatory days: a study among medical students. Biomed Pharmacol J. 2018; 11: 1153. doi: dx.doi. org/10.13005/bpj/1476.
26. Šljivo A, Juginović A, Ivanović K, et al. Sleep quality and patterns of young West Balkan adults during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2022 May 24; 12(5): e060381. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021060381.
27. Caliskan SG, Kilic MA, Bilgin MD. Acute effects of energy drink on hemodynamic and electrophysiologic parameters in habitual and non-habitual caffeine consumers. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021 Apr; 42: 333-8. doi: 10.1016/j.
clnesp.2021.01.011. Epub 2021 Feb 4.
28. Sherman SM, Buckley TP, Baena E, Ryan L. Caffeine enhances memory performance in young adults during their non-optimal time of day. Front Psychol. 2016 Nov 14; 7: 1764. https:// doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01764.
29. Champlin SE, Pasch KE, Perry CL. Is the consumption of energy drinks associated with academic achievement among college students? J Prim Prev. 2016 Aug; 37(4): 345-59. doi:
10.1007/s10935-016-0437-4.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Transfer of Copyright and Permission to Reproduce Parts of Published Papers.
Authors retain the copyright for their published work. No formal permission will be required to reproduce parts (tables or illustrations) of published papers, provided the source is quoted appropriately and reproduction has no commercial intent. Reproductions with commercial intent will require written permission and payment of royalties.