Could energy drinks be a cause of mental health problems, low academic attainment, and disruptive behaviour?

Abstract

Caffeinated energy drinks have become a cause for concern, with mainstream media accounts relating their usage to undesirable outcomes. My doctoral work aimed to investigate the efficacy of such claims by determining whether energy drink use predicts stress and mental health problems, disruptive behaviour, and low academic attainment. The research took a novel approach by investigating the use of these products both in isolation and in combination with other dietary variables (e.g., cola and chewing gum consumption, breakfast omission). The results suggest that energy drink use is associated with undesirable outcomes in young consumers, and that such relationships could be causal.