Sleepy Teens and Energy Drink Use: Results From an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Youth

ABSTRACT

This study examines the association between use of energy drinks or products (EP), EP expectancies, and the association between EP use and sleep in a racially and ethnically diverse sample (N = 2,485) of adolescents. Prevalence of EP use was approximately 18%, with no statistically significant racial or ethnic differences in prevalence. There were significant racial and ethnic differences in EP expectancies; Hispanic and Multiracial or Other groups endorsed less positive expectancies than Whites and Asians. EP use was significantly associated with later weekend bedtimes, shorter weekend total sleep time (TST), a smaller weekend–weekday difference in TST, and more trouble sleeping, even after adjusting for covariates. There were no significant race or ethnicity interactions between EP use and sleep. EP use is an independent correlate of sleep problems in adolescents across racial or ethnic groups.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the districts and schools who participated in and supported this project. We would also like to thank Kirsten Becker and Megan Zander-Cotugno for overseeing survey administrations. Portions of this work were presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA, June 2015.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA016577: “Brief Voluntary Alcohol and Drug Intervention for Middle School Youth” and R01AA020883: “Adolescent AOD Use Trajectories: The Role of Race and Ethnicity”) to Elizabeth J. D’Amico.