Energy Drink and Coffee Consumption and Psychopathology Symptoms Among Early Adolescents: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations
Open accessAbstract
Background: Little is known about possible links between energy drink use and psychopathology among youth. This study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between energy drink consumption and psychopathology among early adolescents. In addition, associations between psychopathology and coffee consumption were examined to assess whether findings were specific to energy drinks or also applied to another commonly used caffeinated beverage. Methods: One hundred forty-four youth who participated in the Camden Youth Development Study (72 males; mean age 11.9 at wave 1; 65% Hispanic, 30% African American) were assessed using self-report measures of frequency of energy drink and coffee consumption and depression, anxiety, conduct disorder (CD) symptoms, and teacher reports of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Youth (92%) were reassessed 16 months later. Results: Concurrently, energy drink and coffee consumption were associated with similar psychopathology symptoms; when the other beverage was adjusted for, energy drinks remained associated with CD and coffee remained associated with panic anxiety. Initial energy drink consumption predicted increasing ADHD and CD over time, though the association with CD dropped to a trend level of significance when coffee was adjusted for. Initial levels of hyperactive ADHD predicted increasing coffee consumption over time; this association remained when energy drinks were controlled. Social anxiety was associated with less increase in energy drink consumption over time, controlling for coffee. Conclusion: Energy drink and coffee consumption among early adolescents are concurrently associated with similar psychopathology symptoms. Longitudinally, the associations between these beverages and psychopathology differ, indicating that these substances have differing implications for development over time.
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One longitudinal study found evidence that increased energy drink consumption was associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder inattention and hyperactivity at 16-month follow-up, but did not find evidence for associations with depression, panic and anxiety.
“One longitudinal study was conducted and it found evidence that increased energy drink consumption was associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder inattention and hyperactivity at 16-month follow-up, but did not find evidence for associations with depression, panic and anxiety [94].”
From The negative impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on children’s health: an update of the literature (2018) · cites this paper as [94]
A number of cross-sectional studies examined the effects of energy drink consumption among children and adolescents, with each study often reporting on multiple outcomes.
“A number of cross-sectional studies examined the effects of energy drink consumption among children and adolescents [90–97], with each study often reporting on multiple outcomes.”
From The negative impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on children’s health: an update of the literature (2018) · cites this paper as [94]
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- Authors
- Marmorstein, N. R.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Marmorstein, Naomi R.
- Venue
- Journal of Caffeine Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-06-01
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 64-72
- ISSN
- 2156-5368 (ISSN-L)
- 2156-5783
- PMC
- PMC4892225
- OpenAlex
- W2286674491
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 2.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Journal of Caffeine Research (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Coffee research and impacts
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- energy drinks, coffee consumption, caffeinated beverages, adolescent psychopathology, conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety, social anxiety, early adolescence, youth development
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