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Sleep quality and sleep patterns in relation to consumption of energy drinks, caffeinated beverages, and other stimulants among Thai college students

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Abstract

Purpose

Poor sleep and heavy use of caffeinated beverages have been implicated as risk factors for a number of adverse health outcomes. Caffeine consumption and use of other stimulants are common among college students globally. However, to our knowledge, no studies have examined the influence of caffeinated beverages on the sleep quality of college students in Southeast Asian populations. We conducted this study to evaluate the patterns of sleep quality and to examine the extent to which poor sleep quality is associated with consumption of energy drinks, caffeinated beverages, and other stimulants among 2,854 Thai college students.

Methods

A questionnaire was administered to ascertain demographic and behavioral characteristics. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess sleep habits and quality. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify statistically significant associations.

Results

Overall, the prevalence of poor sleep quality was found to be 48.1 %. A significant percent of students used stimulant beverages (58.0 %). Stimulant use (odds ratios (OR) 1.50; 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) 1.28–1.77) was found to be statistically significant and positively associated with poor sleep quality. Alcohol consumption (OR 3.10; 95 % CI 1.72–5.59) and cigarette smoking (OR 1.43; 95 % CI 1.02–1.98) also had a statistically significant association with increased daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness. In conclusion, stimulant use is common among Thai college students and is associated with several indices of poor sleep quality.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the need to educate students on the importance of sleep and the influences of dietary and lifestyle choices on their sleep quality and overall health.

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Acknowledgments

H.K. and G.C. were research training fellows with the Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program of the Harvard University School of Public Health when this research study was completed. The Multidisciplinary International Research Program is supported by an award from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (T37-MD000149).

Conflict of interest

None to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Vitool Lohsoonthorn, Somrat Lertmaharit & Thanapoom Rattananupong

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Hazar Khidir, Gardenia Casillas, Mahlet G. Tadesse, Bizu Gelaye & Michelle A. Williams

  3. College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Somrat Lertmaharit

  4. Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA

    Mahlet G. Tadesse

  5. School of Nursing, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

    Wipawan C. Pensuksan

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  1. Vitool Lohsoonthorn
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  2. Hazar Khidir
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  3. Gardenia Casillas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bizu Gelaye.

Additional information

Hazar Khidir and Gardenia Casillas contributed equally to this work.

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Lohsoonthorn, V., Khidir, H., Casillas, G. et al. Sleep quality and sleep patterns in relation to consumption of energy drinks, caffeinated beverages, and other stimulants among Thai college students. Sleep Breath 17, 1017–1028 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0792-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-012-0792-1

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