Relationship between frequency of energy drink consumption and insomnia, depression, alcohol abuse, socioeconomic status, and religion among students in the republic of Bashkortostan

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Energy drinks (EDs) have recently been gaining popularity in Bashkortostan, as elsewhere in Russia, and are particularly prevalent among young people, whose health is critical to public health. Finding associations between the frequent consumption of EDs and mental health problems has become our main goal. METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire was designed to analyse the incidence and context of the consumption of EDs in relation to the demographics, socioeconomic status, Insomnia Severity Index, the Alcohol Abuse Risk Test, and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. RESULTS: Among 813 participants, 20.8 ± 5.9 years old in average, 644 (79.2%) were women. Overall, 23% of participants had never tried EDs, 42.4% reported sporadic use, 17% consume EDs several times a month, and 12.4% and 5.2% several times a week and day, respectively. A statistically significant association was observed between EDs drinking frequency and male gender, lower educational level, cigarette smoking, drug use, religiosity, and age. The relationship of insomnia severity and risk of alcohol abuse to the frequency of EDs intake was also statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The frequency of consumption of EDs was associated with male gender, atheism, a lower level of education and age, smoking and drug use, severe insomnia, and a high risk of alcohol abuse. These groups of people are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of EDs.