Investigating associations between caffeinated beverage consumption and later alcohol consumption among early adolescents

Sociocultural influences on alcohol expectancies in early adolescence: Findings from the ABCD study

OBJECTIVE

Alcohol expectancies (AE) during early adolescence predict early alcohol use initiation and problem drinking both cross-sectionally and prospectively well into adulthood. Yet, our understanding of the sociocultural factors associated with AE during this development period remains limited. This study examines associations between AE and sociocultural factors across various domains (i.e., individual, family, peer, school, community, and culture) in a demographically diverse sample of 10- to 14-year-old youth in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study).

METHOD

This cross-sectional study used 2-year follow-up data from the ABCD Release 3.0 for N = 5,322 early adolescents (Mage = 12 years [SD = 0.6]; 47% male). Approximately 60% identified as non-Hispanic/Latinx White, 17% as Hispanic/Latinx, 11% as non-Hispanic/Latinx Black, 2% as non-Hispanic/Latinx Asian, and 11% as mixed/other race-ethnicity. Separate models for positive and negative AE outcomes were conducted using linear mixed-effect models while controlling for demographic covariates.

RESULTS

Positive AE were most strongly associated with familism, followed by other peer, school, community, and cultural level factors. Negative AE were most strongly associated with the peer-level factor of relational victimization and the individual-level factor of negative life events, followed by other peer, school, and community-level factors.

CONCLUSION

The present findings reveal the potential constellation of sociocultural factors that may serve as targets for modifying AE during the middle school years. Study results also underscore the need for future research that integrates cultural factors into our understanding of alcohol use risk and resilience during early adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Caffeinated Soda Intake in Children Is Associated with Neurobehavioral Risk Factors for Substance Misuse

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Use of psychotropic substances in childhood has been associated with both impulsivity and other manifestations of poor executive function as well as escalation over time to use of progressively stronger substances. However, how this relationship may start in earlier childhood has not been well explored. Here, we investigated the neurobehavioral correlates of daily caffeinated soda consumption in preadolescent children and examined whether caffeinated soda intake is associated with a higher risk of subsequent alcohol initiation.

METHODS

Using Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study data (N = 2,092), we first investigated cross-sectional relationships between frequent caffeinated soda intake and well-known risk factors of substance misuse: impaired working memory, high impulsivity, and aberrant reward processing. We then examined whether caffeinated soda intake at baseline predicts more alcohol sipping at 12 months follow-up using a machine learning algorithm.

RESULTS

Daily consumption of caffeinated soda was cross-sectionally associated with neurobehavioral risk factors for substance misuse such as higher impulsivity scores and lower working memory performance. Furthermore, caffeinated soda intake predicted a 2.04 times greater likelihood of alcohol sipping after 12 months, even after controlling for rates of baseline alcohol sipping rates.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that previous linkages between caffeine and substance use in adolescence also extend to younger initiation, and may stem from core neurocognitive features thought conducive to substance initiation.

Energy drinks and alcohol use among adolescents: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Alcohol use is a leading cause of reduced health among young people. Consumption of energy drinks might be a risk factor for alcohol use. The aim of this study was to examine if more frequent consumption of energy drinks in early adolescence was associated with higher concurrent alcohol consumption, and with stronger increase in alcohol use throughout adolescence.

METHODS

The data came from MyLife, a longitudinal study where Norwegian adolescents completed e-questionnaires in the autumn of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The participants were a nationwide sample of 2916 adolescents (mean age: 14.25 [SD = 0.85], 56% girls). At baseline, adolescents self-reported how often they had consumed energy drinks over the past month, a range of family factors, individual characteristics, and substance use. Self-reports of alcohol use (frequency, usual quantity, and frequency of consuming five or more units) were collected at all five assessments and combined into continuous variables.

RESULTS

The results of fully adjusted growth curve models indicate that more frequent consumption of energy drinks at baseline was associated with greater concurrent alcohol use (p < .001), and greater increase in alcohol use over time (p < .05). The effect of energy drinks on concurrent alcohol use was stronger for girls, but the effect on increase over time was stronger for boys.

CONCLUSION

Consumption of energy drinks in early adolescence is associated with more alcohol use throughout adolescence, but the effect size was rather modest in this sample of Norwegian adolescents.

Excessive Gaming and Online Energy-Drink Marketing Exposure Associated with Energy-Drink Consumption among Adolescents

In this study, we examined excessive online gaming by adolescents and the resultant effects of their exposure to the online marketing of energy drinks and alcohol, and whether marketing literacy could serve as a mitigating factor. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020. Data were obtained from a sample of 2613 seventh-grade students from 30 middle schools in Taiwan. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted. The results showed that nearly 18% of the adolescent respondents had used energy drinks, while 75% reported seeing energy-drink advertisements on the internet in the past year. Multiple regression results indicated that factors such as being male, reporting excessive gaming, being exposed to higher levels of online energy-drink marketing, and reporting alcohol use were positively associated with energy-drink consumption. A higher level of online energy-drink marketing-affective literacy, however, was negatively associated with energy-drink consumption. In conclusion, factors that predicted energy-drink consumption among adolescents included excessive gaming and exposure to online energy-drink marketing, but marketing-affective literacy tended to lessen the impact of such advertising.

Risky behaviors, substance use, and other lifestyle correlates of energy drink consumption in children and adolescents: a systematic review

Increasing concerns have been raised on the health-related risks connected with energy drink (ED) consumption in children and adolescents, with high acute or chronic consumers exceeding 10% in either age group in Europe in 2011. Preliminary evidence has suggested a common pattern of ED and substance use, especially alcohol. Additional evidence has been accumulating very fast; in addition, other lifestyle and risky behaviors may contribute to shed light on the complex interplay of factors involved in ED consumption. We have undertaken a comprehensive systematic review of the evidence on psychosocial correlates of ED consumption in 0-18 years subjects, as published up to April 1, 2021, in MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Reviews and Central Register of Controlled Trials, which allowed to select 104 original articles. Only ~ 10% of the papers provided results based on longitudinal analyses. A common pattern of ED consumption and polysubstance use, including alcohol, tobacco, and soft and hard drugs, was still confirmed in adolescents; violent and risky behaviors were also related to a higher ED consumption. In addition, frequent ED consumers are more likely to have bad dietary habits, including consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and junk foods. A generally inconclusive evidence was found for sport/physical activities, although sedentary behaviors were generally related to ED consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent ED consumption might be a screening indicator to identify students at risk of substance use or other risky/problem behaviors; enquiring about an adolescent's recent ED consumption could create opportunities for early intervention/prevention by informed pediatricians.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Substances, especially alcohol, are associated with energy drinks in most cross-sectional studies.

WHAT IS NEW

• Violent behaviors are associated with energy drink consumption, in the absence of longitudinal studies; problematic use of internet/videogames deserves further investigation; unhealthy dietary patterns are related to energy drinks; evidence on physical activity is inconclusive, but sedentary behaviors are related to energy drinks.

Psychological and socio-educational correlates of energy drink consumption in children and adolescents: a systematic review

Energy drinks (EDs) are non-alcoholic beverages providing an extra boost in physical/cognitive performance and mood. Besides the physiological effects related to the high-caffeine content of EDs, long-term emotional, social, and behavioral effects have been recently receiving attention. However, a few systematic reviews have focused on the critical yet understudied periods of childhood and adolescence. We have undertaken a comprehensive systematic review of the evidence on any psychosocial correlates of ED consumption in 0-18-year-old subjects, as published up to April 1, 2021, in MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Reviews and Central Register of Controlled Trials. Of the initial 789 records, 104 original articles were included in the systematic review. Seventy percent of them were published from 2016 onwards; among investigated topics, substance use ranked first, followed by psychological and socio-educational factors; the less investigated topic was risky behaviors. Taste and energy-seeking were the main drivers of consumption, which generally happened at home or during sport/recreational activities, without perception of health-related risks. Positive associations with ED consumption were found for sensation seeking, irritability/anger, and suicide ideation, plan, or attempts. Finally, participants with lower grades, a low parental monitoring, or bad influences from peers were more likely to consume EDs. Conclusion: With ~ 70% of papers published since the 2 comprehensive reviews on children/adolescents were carried out, an update of the literature with a broad focus is of great importance. Consumption of EDs by children/adolescents lies in the potential interplay between personality traits, school performance, and influences by family members and peers. What is Known: • Taste and energy-seeking are the main drivers of energy drink consumption, which mostly happened at home or in sport/recreational activities. What is New: • Perception of risks related to energy drinks is associated with a lower consumption, as based on cross-sectional studies. • As mostly based on cross-sectional studies: 1. energy drink consumption is related to sensation seeking, irritability/anger, and suicide ideation or attempts; 2. students with a lower school performance, low parental monitoring, or bad peer influence, are more likely to consume energy drinks.

Consumption Patterns of Energy Drinks in Adolescents and Their Effects on Behavior and Mental Health: A Systematic Review

The aim of the current review was to analyze primary studies about energy drink consumption patterns in adolescents and their relationship with mental health. PubMed, PLOS ONE, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect databases were searched to identify articles related to adverse effects of energy drinks in adolescents and young adults aged 11 to 18 years. Psychological and behavioral measures were based on validated screening tools used in various contexts, and bias was detected in energy drink consumption patterns. In regard to sex, boys consumed more energy drinks than girls, and a strong, positive association was reported between consumption and probability of risky behaviors; tendency for anxiety, depression, and impulsivity; poor academic performance; and sleep disturbances. A progressive increase in consumption was also noted of 25% to 75% within 5 years. Findings suggest that standardized consumption pattern assessment be included in evaluations of mental health to determine potential causal relationships. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Chronic Red Bull Consumption during Adolescence: Effect on Mesocortical and Mesolimbic Dopamine Transmission and Cardiovascular System in Adult Rats

Energy drinks are very popular nonalcoholic beverages among adolescents and young adults for their stimulant effects. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of repeated intraoral Red Bull (RB) infusion on dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell and core and in the medial prefrontal cortex and on cardiac contractility in adult rats exposed to chronic RB consumption. Rats were subjected to 4 weeks of RB voluntary consumption from adolescence to adulthood. Monitoring of in vivo dopamine was carried out by brain microdialysis. In vitro cardiac contractility was studied on biomechanical properties of isolated left-ventricular papillary muscle. The main finding of the study was that, in treated animals, RB increased shell dopamine via a nonadaptive mechanism, a pattern similar to that of drugs of abuse. No changes in isometric and isotonic mechanical parameters were associated with chronic RB consumption. However, a prolonged time to peak tension and half-time of relaxation and a slower peak rate of tension fall were observed in RB-treated rats. It is likely that RB treatment affects left-ventricular papillary muscle contraction. The neurochemical results here obtained can explain the addictive properties of RB, while the cardiovascular investigation findings suggest a hidden papillary contractility impairment.

Association between energy drink consumption and substance use in adolescence: A systematic review of prospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether energy drink (ED) consumption is associated with substance use (SU) in adolescence. The purpose of this study is to clarify the association.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using a wide range of electronic bibliographic databases to search for published prospective cohort studies on the topic from inception to 14th August 2019. The risk of bias was addressed by using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions; ROBINS-I. Studies targeting adolescents were collected. Additionally, we collected studies that examined an association between the extent of energy drink consumption as exposure variables and any substance use as outcome variables.

RESULTS

Five studies met the eligibility criteria. ED consumption was associated with adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, prescription stimulants, and analgesics. However, the overall risk of bias in the included studies was severe.

CONCLUSION

ED consumption may be associated with SU in adolescence, particularly alcohol use. The results, however, were still inconclusive due to the relatively low methodological quality in the included studies. Evidence from more well-designed trials is needed in future research.

Case report on energy drink consumption among Health Sciences University students in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Background

There are claims that energy drink (ED) consumption can bring about an improvement in mental functioning in the form of increased alertness and enhanced mental and physical energy. These claims address the lifestyle of a student of sleep deprivation and academic pressure with ED consumption becoming a popular practice amongst students. The study’s objectives were to determine the prevalence, reasons for, and patterns of ED and alcohol mixed with ED (AmED) consumption amongst university students.

Case presentation

Registered students of the Health Sciences University, Gauteng Province, South Africa, formed the study population where this quantitative cross-sectional survey conveniently collected data by means of previous validated self-administered questionnaires from 490 students representing the diverse demographics of the university. Questions on the socio-demographic profile of the participants; pattern of alcohol use; reasons, pattern, and preferred types of EDs use; and the pattern, reason, and experience of AmED use during the past 12 months were asked. Frequency and percentages of distributions were determined, and the possible factors contributing to ED consumption were computed using the chi-square test. Results indicated that a total of 58% of students were consuming EDs mainly to stay awake (31%), to be more alert (14%), and to help with concentration (15%), 69% were consuming alcohol, and 16% were consuming AmEDs.

Conclusion

There is an urgent need for an appropriate public health prevention intervention so that ED consumers can make informed choices when indulging in these health behaviors before the seemingly harmless consumption of ED amongst students becomes a public health issue.