A Survey of Caffeine Use and Associated Side Effects in a College Population

Abstract

While caffeine ingestion is commonplace, there is a relative lack of research on normative standards of caffeine consumption. The present investigation surveyed two hundred and seventy students at a midwestern state university concerning their consumption of various caffeine products. The results of the investigation suggest that there is an identifiable group of individuals who use excessive amounts of caffeine. The survey has also identified several deleterious effects that may be related to caffeine use. The most important finding of the study was that roughly 75 percent of the individuals who use caffeinated products rarely sought information concerning the caffeine content of the products they were using nor did they attempt to avoid substances containing caffeine. Suggestions for education and prevention are offered.