Association of Caffeine Intake and Stress among University Students

Abstract

Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to determine the relationship between caffeine intake and stress among university students. While the secondary objective of the study was to find how the type and amount of caffeine consumption affects university students.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted in which 154 undergraduate students of University of Management and Technology of ages 17 to 26 years were targeted.  Questionnaires were administered using an interview-based technique, incorporating the Perceived Stress Scale—one of the most widely used psychological tools for assessing stress perception—and a measure to evaluate caffeine consumption by calculating the number of caffeine servings per week.

Results: The study highlighted the stress score according to which, 15% of the respondents had low intensity of stress, 66% had moderate intensity of stress, and 19% students were in the high stress category. We analyzed their caffeine consumption and the results indicated that 82% students had low consumption of caffeine, 14% were having moderate amounts of caffeine and only 4% students had high consumption of caffeine. Out of all caffeinated products, the most consumed caffeinated drink amongst the undergraduate male (WHY MALE) students of UMT was tea (43% responded 5-6 times/week), while coke/ carbonated beverages (38% responded 2-3 times/week) and milk chocolate bars (36% responded 4 times/week) followed at second and third place. The Pearson correlation coefficient between stress scores and caffeine intake is -0.007. This value is very close to zero, indicating almost no linear relationship between stress and caffeine

Conclusion: The study concluded that there is no relation between stress and caffeine intake.