Knowledge, attitude, and perception of energy drinks consumption among university students in Jordan

Abstract

Energy drinks gained popularity after the launch of Red Bull in 1997. Different brands are now available and young adults mainly consume these drinks. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude, and perception of energy drink consumption among university students in Jordan. A validated online survey was used to collect the required data, extracted from Google Forms into an Excel spreadsheet and statistically analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24.0. A nationally representative sample of university students with a mean age of 22⋅2 ± 3⋅9 years (n 749) was obtained. The participating students demonstrated a neutral level of knowledge about energy drinks, as the mean score of knowledge = 7⋅1 ± 2⋅2 (out of 12), with 66 % (n 498) of them having consumed energy drinks and experienced their effects. Generally, the study's participants demonstrated a neutral attitude towards energy drinks and 70⋅5 % (n 528) acknowledged that energy drinks increase activity, but more than 70 % of them believed that energy drinks have harmful side effects. It was found that there is a significant (P-value <0⋅5) positive correlation between knowledge score and female gender, studying a medical major, and monthly income. The main reasons for consuming energy drinks were reported to be: to stay awake for longer, help study, and become more energetic. There is a need for more structured awareness campaigns to warn students about the possible side effects of these products in order to reduce the consumption and popularity of these drinks among students.

Keywords: Attitude; Energy drinks; Knowledge; Perception; University students.

Fig. 1.

Sources of information about energy drinks among the study participants (n 749).

Fig. 2.

Participants reported usage of energy drinks. (a) Participants answers upon asking them if they drink these energy products. (b) Among the energy drinks users (n 498), this graph demonstrates the most common types of the used energy drinks.

Fig. 3.

Participants’ perception towards energy drinks (n 749). Attitude score (mean ± sd) 3⋅9 ± 1⋅0. The attitude score was assessed using a Likert scale from a maximum of 5 to a minimum of 1.