Perceived stress, energy drink consumption, and academic performance among college students.

OBJECTIVE This study explored relationships regarding perceived stress, energy drink consumption, and academic performance among college students. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 136 undergraduates attending a large southern plains university. METHODS Participants completed surveys including items from the Perceived Stress Scale(1) and items to describe energy drink consumption, academic performance, and demographics. RESULTS Positive correlations existed between participants' perceived stress and energy drink consumption. Participants' energy drink consumption and academic performance were negatively correlated. Freshmen (M = 0.330) and sophomores (M = 0.408) consumed a lower number of energy drinks yesterday than juniors (M = 1.000). Males reported higher means than females for selected energy drink consumption items. Statistically significant interactions existed between gender and year in school for selected energy drink consumption items. CONCLUSIONS Results confirm gender differences in energy drink consumption and illuminate a need for education regarding use of energy drinks in response to perceived stress.