A comparison of amount of sleep between energy drink consumers and non-consumers and energy drink consumption patterns at Fresno State

Most previous research on patterns of energy drink consumption among college students and effect of that consumption on sleep has been conducted outside the United States. Studies in the United States have been in universities with disproportionally large Caucasian populations and have had conflicting results with respect to gender influences. This study collected primary data from 237 students at an ethnically diverse university. A 10-item questionnaire assessed consumption in the past 30 days, in the average school week, and on the average school day in relation to amount of sleep, race/ethnicity, and gender. Data were analyzed with Pearson Chi-square test with Yates correction factor. A statistically significant difference was observed in amount of sleep between energy drink consumers and non-consumers over the past 30 days but not during the average school week or day. Energy drink consumption patterns did not appear to be impacted by race/ethnicity. However, the study yielded statistically significant differences in energy drink consumption patterns based on gender.