Energy Drinks Consumption Associated with Emotional and Behavioural Problems via Lack of Sleep and Skipped Breakfast among Adolescents

Abstract

The aim of our study was to explore whether energy drink consumption is associated with both emotional and behavioural problems and whether this association might be mediated by amount of sleep and breakfast consumption among adolescents. The nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, realised in 2018 in Slovakia in schools, was used to acquire needed data, with the research sample of 8405 adolescents from 11 to 15 years old (mean age = 13.43; 50.9% boys) who completed the questionnaires on their own in a presence of researchers and research assistants. Emotional and behavioural problems were assessed by a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, while energy drinks consumption, breakfast consumption and sleep duration was assessed by questions in line with the HBSC study protocol. Linear regression models assessed the associations between energy drinks consumption and emotional and behavioural problems. Mediation by sleep duration and breakfast consumption was assessed with parallel mediation models. Energy drink consumption was significantly associated with emotional (p < 0.001) and behavioural problems (p < 0.001), with higher consumption of energy drinks leading to more emotional and behavioural problems. Results from a parallel mediation analysis indicated that energy drink consumption is indirectly related to both emotional and behavioural problems through its relationship with the amount of sleep and breakfast consumption. Parents and professionals working with adolescents should be aware that unhealthy dietary habits and lack of sleep might be related to emotional and behavioural problems.

Keywords: adolescence; breakfast consumption; emotional and behavioural problems; energy drinks consumption; sleep.

Figure 1

Mediation by sleep duration and breakfast consumption of the relation between EDs and emotional problems. Notes: *** p < 0.001. All presented effects are unstandardised; a_n is the effect of ED consumption on mediators; b_n is the effect of mediators on emotional problems; c’ is the direct effect of ED consumption on emotional problems, and c is the total effect of ED consumption on emotional problems.

Figure 2

Mediation by sleep duration and breakfast consumption of the relation between EDs and behavioural problems. Notes: *** p < 0.001. All presented effects are unstandardised; a_n is the effect of ED consumption on mediators; b_n is effect of mediators on behavioural problems; c’ is the direct effect of ED consumption on behavioural problems, and c is the total effect of ED consumption on behavioural problems.