Association Between Caffeinated Beverages, Body Mass Index, And Academic Stress in Medical Students of Hail University - A Cross-Sectional, Questionnaire-Based Study

Aljarboa, Abdullah M.; Al Ghassab, Majed A.; Almuzaini, Nawaf K.; Alshammari, Adeeb N.; Dhanarasu, Sasikumar; Qiblawi, Samir

doi:10.21608/eajbsc.2018.13661

Association Between Caffeinated Beverages, Body Mass Index, And Academic Stress in Medical Students of Hail University - A Cross-Sectional, Questionnaire-Based Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

10.21608/eajbsc.2018.13661

Abstract

Background:Medical students are exposed to high academic stress and many of these students consume caffeinated beverages to enhance their performance. Short-term effects of caffeine consumption include enhanced mood and alertness. A lot of research was done on the association between caffeinated beverages consumption and its effect on academic load and stress, but there is no data concerning the students' perception of Hail University, especially medical students. The current study aimed to present cross-sectional data from the different educational level to investigate associations between caffeinated beverages, BMI, academic performance and stress in medical students of Hail University.
Methodology:This study was conducted with medical students (both male and female) at University of Hail between 2nd March 2018 and 18th March 2018. Data was collected using a self-reported questionnaire from 258 students. The questions included were about demographics, types. and number of cups per day of caffeine consumption and reasons for consuming. Academic stress and load on a five-point scale and also asked the effects and satisfaction of caffeinated beverages.
Results: The participation rate was 73.26%. The sample included 36 (19%), 32 (16.9%), 27 (14.3%), 54 (28.6%), 19 (10.1%) and 21 (11.1 %) of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th year students respectively. The subjects were aged between 18 and 29 years [90 (47.6%) male and 99 (52.4%) female]. Comparatively black coffee, Arabian coffee and tea have more than other types of beverages and also these were high in obese students compare with other caffeinated beverages.
Overall most of the students' feel their self-perceived academic load were average (45.5%) or above average (29.1%). Academic stress with drinking more caffeinated beverages were reflected in academic performance. Increased caffeinated beverages drinking showed with increased effects of their anxiety and academic performance.
Conclusion: The prevalence of caffeinated beverage consumption was high with black coffee and Arabian coffee being the most frequently consumed of the beverages. Caffeinated beverages consumption, particularly, increased in academic stress and were used mainly to academic performance.

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