Background: The consumption of energy drinks among teenagers and young adults has seen a significant increase in recent years, raising important public health concerns. These beverages typically contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulant compounds, which may have detrimental effects on mental health, particularly in younger individuals whose brains are still developing. Increasing evidence suggests that frequent energy drink intake could be linked to various psychological symptoms, including anxiety, mood disturbances, panic attacks, and sleep disruption.Objective: The primary objective of this pilot study was to explore the relationship between energy drink consumption and self-reported mental health symptoms among young adults. This investigation aimed to better understand how these beverages might impact psychological well-being, focusing on anxiety, mood swings, panic episodes, and sleep quality.Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to a small sample of five individuals aged 17 to 22 years. The survey gathered data on the frequency and amount of energy drink consumption alongside the presence and severity of mental health symptoms. Responses were analyzed descriptively to identify preliminary trends and potential associations between consumption patterns and psychological effects.Results: Findings indicated that a majority of participants (80%) experienced sleep disturbances, anxiety, and mood swings, while 40% reported panic attacks. Moreover, an increased frequency of energy drink use was correlated with heightened severity of these psychological symptoms, suggesting a dose-response relationship. Conclusion: Although limited by the small sample size, these preliminary findings align with existing research highlighting the potential adverse mental health outcomes associated with excessive energy drink consumption. This study underscores the urgent need for larger-scale research and enhanced public health education aimed at reducing risks among youth populations.
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the author upon reasonable request. All identifying information has been anonymized to protect participant confidentiality.
The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest related to this study.
Shaik Mahamad Akram was responsible for the conception and design of the study, development of the questionnaire, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The author also drafted, revised, and finalized the manuscript for publication.
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
The author wishes to thank all the participants who voluntarily took part in the survey and shared their personal experiences. Special appreciation is extended to friends and academic peers for their support during the data collection phase. Gratitude is also expressed to the faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma for their guidance and encouragement throughout the research process.
Alsunni, A. A. (2015). Energy drink consumption: Beneficial and adverse health effects. International Journal of Health Sciences, 9(4), 459–465. https://doi.org/10.12816/0031237 Bonar, E. E., Cunningham, R. M., Polshkova, S., Chermack, S. T., Blow, F. C., & Walton, M. A. (2015). Alcohol and energy drink use among adolescents seeking emergency department care. Addictive Behaviors, 43, 11–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.11.023 Kang, S. G., & Kim, J. W. (2024). Caffeinated beverage intake and sleep quality in youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 75(1), 39–47. Pintér, A., Horváth, J., & Pusztai, A. (2020). Energy drinks and mood disorders: A review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274, 312–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.119 Reissig, C. J., Strain, E. C., & Griffiths, R. R. (2009). Caffeinated energy drinks—A growing problem. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 99(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.08.001 Richards, G., & Smith, A. P. (2016). A review of energy drinks and mental health, with a focus on stress, anxiety, and depression. Journal of Caffeine Research, 6(2), 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1089/jcr.2015.0033 Seifert, S. M., Schaechter, J. L., Hershorin, E. R., & Lipshultz, S. E. (2011). Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics, 127(3), 511–528. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3592 Temple, J. L. (2009). Caffeine use in children: What we know, what we have left to learn, and why we should worry. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 33(6), 793–806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.01.001 Wesensten, N. J. (2014). Legitimacy of caffeine use in fatigue management. Nutrition Reviews, 72(Suppl_1), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.1111/nure.12143 Wilens, T. E., Zulauf, C., Ryland, D., Carrellas, N. W., & Catalina-Wellington, I. (2008). Does caffeine use increase the risk of panic disorder? CNS Spectrums, 13(11), 970–977. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852900016877