survey:users.rowan.edu/~smithd9/researchpaper.docx · web viewcaffeine users and non-users will be...

Running Header: Effect of Caffeine on Health and GPA

Effect of Caffeine Consumption on Student Health and GPA among Rowan University Students

HLT 00227-1: Consumer Health Decisions

Doctor JoAnne Bullard

Daniel Smith


Introduction

Caffeine is one of the most widely used drugs in the world, popular for the positive

effects including an increase in perceived wakefulness, alertness and concentration. Caffeine also

has known negative effects on mood, disturbed sleep, and an energy “crash” when it wears off

(Bedi, R.P. 2009). College students will consume caffeine to make up for lack of sleep, to stay

awake and concentrate in class, and to focus on assignments. Depending on the amount of

caffeine consumed students may experience disturbed sleep, changes in mood, and energy

crashes. The purpose of this study was to look at caffeine consumption among Rowan University

students and the effects on mood, academic performance, and sleep. Caffeine users and non-

users will be surveyed to collect data from both groups. The study attempted to answer the

question “Is there a correlation between caffeine consumption and student Health and GPA?”

Research Question

What is the effect of caffeine consumption on GPA for Rowan University Students?

What is the effect of caffeine consumption on amount of sleep for Rowan University Students?

What is the effect of caffeine consumption on energy levels of Rowan University Students?

What is the effect of caffeine consumption on moods of Rowan University Students?

Is there a difference in male and female caffeine consumption among Rowan University

Students?

Is there a difference between male and female average GPA among Rowan University Students?

Significance Statement

With the popularity of caffeine this study is important because it will give comparative

benefits of consuming and not consuming caffeine. The results of this study will give students


the pros and cons of caffeine and allow them to make an informed decisions about it’s usefulness

to their academic life.

Literature Review

In the study “Caffeine Withdrawal, Cost or Benefit?” by Lack, researchers collect data

from 23 young caffeine consumers. They keep a record of their caffeine consumption and give

out online assessments measuring things such as headaches, alertness, moods, sleep, and daytime

functioning. This study lasted six weeks starting with normal caffeine consumption and then

going through a withdrawal week and then continuing to collect data for four weeks after

withdrawal. The withdrawal week resulted in many negative side effects in daytime functioning,

moods, and sleep. After four weeks of abstaining from caffeine all levels returned to normal and

some even saw a slight, but insignificant improvement after abstaining (Lack, 2013).

In the Journal of Vision study researchers compared the effects of a nap, caffeine, and

modafinil tested on memory. They performed a double blind study and had participants perform

certain tests both before and after either napping or receiving caffeine, modafinil, or a placebo.

The results were compared and the findings showed that naps had the greatest improvement

effect. This study is interesting because it shows that while people will try and use caffeine as a

substitute for sleep, it does not give the same benefits (Mednick, 2010).

The Study by Ruxton studied “The impact of caffeine on mood, cognitive function,

performance and hydration: a review of benefits and risks”. In the study research was conducted

to try and determine the optimal level of caffeine intake for achieving benefits, without reaching

risks such as dehydration. An intake of 38 to 400 mg per day was determined to be the optimal

range. This equals 1 to 8 cups of tea, or .3 to 4 cups of coffee (Ruxton, 2008).


The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics by Pattison, Rusin and Bai

explored the correlation between caffeine consumption and GPA. Previous studies have shown

that caffeine consumption can cause a decrease in the amount of sleep students receive. This

decrease in sleep can be attributed to a decrease in academic performance. This study tried to

determine the correlation between caffeine consumption and GPA, which was determined to

have a weak negative correlation with overall caffeine consumption and a stronger correlation

with higher caffeine consumption (Pattison,S. 2016).

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior study by Simpson studied “Perceived

Stress, Caffeine Consumption and GPA of Undergraduate Students at a Large Public University”

Caffeine consumption and stress levels were measured using an online questionnaire at the

beginning of the semester and at midterms. There was a noticeable rise in both reported stress

levels and caffeine consumption between the start of the semester and midterms (Simpson,Emma

2016).

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior study by Natalie Caine-Bish “Sleep

Habits and Caffeine Use in College Students” studied a correlation between sleep habits and

caffeine use in college students. A difference was found in the study with high caffeine

consumers sleeping less than low caffeine consumers (Caine-Bish,Natalie 2014).

Methods

Subjects: Rowan University Students were the subjects of this study, both male and

female. Participants voluntarily filled out questionnaires found on online social media sites.

Tools: Data was collected using an online survey powered by surveymonkey, which

participants filled out after finding it posted on social media. When designing the survey

questions were designed to determine the demographic of the respondent, frequency of caffeine


use, perceived caffeine dependence and other factors like GPA and sleep quality. Data will be

examined after the study to determine if there is a correlation between caffeine use and the other

variables.

Timeline: All students were surveyed through surveymonkey on link that stayed open for

a week. Results were then analyzed after the link closed.

Results

Figure 1

number percent

Male 23 32.9%

Female 47 67.1%


Figure 2

number percent

coffee 33 47.1%

tea 19 27.1%

energy drinks 4 5.7%

soda 7 10.0%

preworkout 1 1.4%

don't consume 6 8.6%


Figure 3

percentages numberdo not consume 8.57% 6

rarely 2.86% 2

1 -2 times a week

35.71%

25

every other day 18.57% 13

1 -2 cups a day 28.57% 20

3-4 cups a day 4.29% 3

5 + cups a day 1.43% 1


Figure 4

Number Percentageyes 37 54.41%

no 31 45.59%


Figure 5

Number Percentage4 or fewer hours 4 5.80%

About 5-6 hours 26

37.68%

About 7-8 hours 33

47.83%

9 or more hours 6 8.70%

Figure 6

3.6 - 4.0 32 47.06%

3.1 - 3.5 25 36.76%

2.6 - 3.0 8 11.76%

2.1 - 2.5 2 2.94%

2.0 or below 1 1.47%


Figure 7

Freshman 19 27.54%

Sophomore 7 10.14%

Junior 21 30.43%

Senior 21 30.43%

Fifth year / Other 1

1.45%


Figure 8

yes 32 46.38%

–no 37 53.62%


Figure 9

1 35 50.72%

2 13 18.84%

3 15 21.74%

4 4 5.80%

5 2 2.90%

Male GPA (n=22) Female GPA (n=46)

3.6 - 4.0 31.82% 7 3.6 - 4.0 54.35% 25

3.1 - 3.5 50.00% 11 –3.1 - 3.5

30.43% –14

2.6 - 3.0 13.64% 3 – 10.87% –5


2.6 - 3.0

2.1 - 2.5 4.55% 1 –2.1 - 2.5

2.17% 1

2.0 or below 0.00% 0 2.0 or below 2.17% 1

Figure 10

Discussions

The research study was conducted to attempt to answer the research question “is there a

correlation between caffeine consumption and student health and GPA?” All results were taken

online using the site surveymonkey. Regarding GPA of the 20 students that answered question 3

“On average How much caffeine do you drink?” with “1-2 cups a day” 7 of them (35%) reported

their GPA as in the 3.6-4.0 range, and 9 (45%) said it was in the 3.1-3.5 range. 4 Students

answered with “drinking 4 or more cups a day” and they all reported their GPA as in the 3.6-4.0

range. This differs from the data found in figure 6 from the full population 47% reported GPA as

in the 3.6-4.0 range, and 36% as in the 3.1-3.5 range. Given the data one could conclude that

Rowan University students consuming a moderate amount of caffeine (1-2 cups) have an average

lower GPA than Rowan University Students as a whole. Given the small sample size this claim

could not be made, and further sampling would need to be done. It is also worthy to note that the

higher caffeine drinkers have an overall higher GPA, however conclusions cannot be drawn

given the small sample size.

Male and female results were analyzed and a difference was found between male and

female GPA distribution, which can be found in figure 10. Of the 22 surveyed males who

answered the GPA question, 7 (31.8%) reported their GPA as in the 3.6 - 4.0 range, and 11

(50%) reported it as in the 3.1-3.5 range. Of the 46 females that answered, 25 (54.4%) reported


GPA as in the 3.6-4.0 range, and 14 (30.4%) reported GPA as in the 3.1-3.5 range. This data

shows that among the students surveyed, on average female GPA’s as being higher than male

GPA’s. More females answered the survey in general than males which could lead to a

difference, and again the small sample size limits the data’s credibility. Another potential

problem with this data is that all numbers are self reported, with possible embarrassment causing

participants to lie about their GPA.

This data suggests that there might be a potential influence of caffeine on students

academic performance, and more testing would need to be done in order to determine so. This

study was lacking in its number of participants, if it were to be repeated a way to reach more

students would need to be found. There are always limits to a study that analyzes results from a

survey, laboratory testing provides the most accurate measurements. Surveying individuals over

time to see if their answers changed could also provide more information, such as if student

habits and opinions change during exams. There are different ways this study could be improved

upon to further explore the research question.


References

Bedi, R. P. and Wuitchik, N. G. (2009). Caffeine. In G. Fisher & N. Roget, Encyclopedia of

substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Publications. http://ezproxy.rowan.edu/login?url=http://search.credoreference.com/content/

entry/sagesubstab/caffeine/0

Caine-Bish, N., & Pfaff, C. (2014). Sleep habits and caffeine use in college students. Journal of

Nutrition Education and Behavior, 46(4), S178. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2014.04.264

Lack, L., & Johannson, K. (2013). Caffeine withdrawal: Cost or benefit? Sleep Medicine, 14,

e53. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2013.11.090

Mednick, S., Kanady, J., Resovsky, K., & Drummond, S. (2010). Comparing the benefits of a

nap, caffeine,modafinil and placebo on visual, visuospatial, motor and declarative memory.

Journal of Vision, 7(9), 858-858. doi:10.1167/7.9.858

Pattison, S., Rusin, R., & Bai, Y. (2016). Caffeine consumption among college students: Its

effect on sleep hours and academic achievement. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and

Dietetics, 116(9), A13. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.06.028

Ruxton, C. H. S. (2008). The impact of caffeine on mood, cognitive function, performance and

hydration: A review of benefits and risks. Nutrition Bulletin, 33(1), 15-25.

doi:10.1111/j.1467-3010.2007.00665.x

Simpson, E., Stephenson, T., Brewer, D., Schwartz, A., & Bastin, S. (2016). Perceived stress,

caffeine consumption, and GPA of undergraduate students at a large public university.

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 48(7), S102. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2016.04.269


Survey: Caffeine Use and Health Effects

1. Are you male or female?● Male● Female

2. What is your preferred caffeinated beverage?● coffee● tea● energy drinks (monster, red bull etc)● soda● Pre-workout containing caffeine● Other (please specify)

3. On average how much caffeine do you consume● I do not consume caffeine● once or twice a week● every other day● 1 -2 cups a day● 3-4 cups a day● 5 or more cups a day● Other (please specify)

4. Has your caffeine use increased since starting college?

● yes● no

5. How many hours do you sleep each night?● 4 or fewer hours● About 5-6 hours● About 7-8 hours● 9 or more hours

6. What is your GPA?● 3.6 - 4.0● 3.1 - 3.5● 2.6 - 3.0● 2.1 - 2.5● 2.0 or below

7. What grade are you in?● Freshman● Sophomore● Junior● Senior● Fifth year / Other


8. Do you feel caffeine helps you focus in class or studying?

● yes● no

9. On a scale of 1-5 how much do you depend on caffeine to get you through the day? (1 being the lowest)

● 1● 2● 3● 4● 5

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