Date of Award
5-1-2014
Degree Name
Master of Public Health
Department
Health Education
First Advisor
Wleshimer, Kathleen
Abstract
The purposes of this study were: To assess factors that influence energy drink consumptions among college students. To analyze the reasons behind consuming energy drinks as well as the reasons for not consuming them. And to evaluate the participants' knowledge regarding energy drinks' ingredients, safety, and side effects. A total of 417 undergraduate students who registered in 101 general education classes during the Fall 2013 semester at the departments of Health Education, Kinesiology, and Nutrition at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale participated in the study. Energy drink use was associated with the number of the paid employment hours (p= .000). Gender also played a significant role, with a larger proportion of females than males drinking them mixed with alcohol (p= .005). Of students who consumed energy drinks, a substantial number drank them without alcohol before age 17 (32.8 percent; n= 39) and 82.4 percent (n= 96) before age 19 drank them with alcohol. Energy drink consumers were more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as smoking and drinking alcohol (p =.000). Also, the consumers perceived them as safer than those who did not use them (p= .000), and were less knowledgeable about side effects (p= .000). The study's findings suggest directions for health education and policymaking regarding energy drinks. Key words: Energy drinks, Energy drinks' safety, and energy drinks risk awareness
Access
This thesis is Open Access and may be downloaded by anyone.