Energy drink consumption and its relationship to alcohol use disorders and impulsiveness in health sciences students in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose We aimed to examine energy drink (ED) consumption and its relationship to alcohol use disorders and impulsiveness in health sciences students. Design and Methods This cross-sectional research was conducted with 1202 health sciences students. Data collection tools were Energy Drink Consumption Form, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11). Findings Of the students, 30.6% who used EDs reported doing so in the past year. AUDIT and BIS-11 scores of students with high ED consumption were higher than those with less ED consumption and who do not consume at all (p < 0.05). Practice Implications Education of students in departments of health should include EDs and their drawbacks as part of nutrition or health coursework.