Energy Drinks, Coffee, and Pop Consumed by College Athletes before a Game
By, Lindsea Vaudt
Dr. Boye
HHP 389
Senior Seminar in Health
Lindsea Vaudt
Research Proposal
HHP 379
Energy Drinks, Coffee, and Pop Consumed by College Athletes before a Game
Statement of the problem:
McCarthy in his article from USA Today states that energy drinks are good for college athletes to
take because it helps keep them away from steroids or illegal drugs. This can be true but why take
anything at all. Energy drinks are growing in popularity every day. The largest consumption of this
beverage is from teens to mid thirties. McCarthy's study shows that 80% of college students and recent
grads said yes to the use of energy drinks. They want to find that edge over the competition. With a
large amount of caffeine in these drinks it is important to know what and how much is being put in the
body. Athletes who consume too many energy drinks could suffer from dehydration, tremors, heat
stroke and heart attacks. Water should be a replacement. (McCarthy, 2009)
Some people don't know or understand the difference between sports drinks like Gatorade and
energy drinks like Red Bull, so they take them interchangeably (McCarthy, 2009). It is important that if
an athlete drinks an energy drink they need to drink water before, during, and after the activity. "Eric
Small of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan told of treating a 17-year-old female runner
suffering from chest pains and fatigue. She collapsed at the finish line of one race and was rushed to an
emergency room. Turns out she liked to skip breakfast in favor of drinking two or three cans of Red Bull
each morning, Small says. More youngsters are substituting protein bars and shakes for real food, he
adds." (McCarthy, 2009)
Malinauskas's (2007) study showed 500 college students beliefs and behaviors linked to energy
drink use. This study found 51% of students consumed a minimum of 1 drink each month during the
semester. Results showed insufficient sleep, fatigue, and anxiety related symptoms. STASIO, (2011) also
did a study showing data about the growing knowledge regarding the use of caffeinated energy drinks in
college. Stasio shows two problems reported by students and that is anxiety and sleep disturbance, This
relating to depressed mood states.
The study of Caldwell (2005) was about the usage of energy drinks in the military. U.S. military
has authorized the use of stimulants—caffeine, modafinil, and dextroamphetamine—to maintain the
alertness and performance of personnel during periods of sleep deprivation. It was first predicted that
the number of energy drinks consumed would be positively related to anxiety scores. Similarly, it was
predicted that the number of energy drinks consumed would be positively related to sleep disturbances.
It is expected that ROTC cadets would use energy drinks more frequently than athletes (Caldwell, 2005).
There are many side effects to athletes who consume caffeine; it can create poor sleeping
habits, dehydration, dieresis, insomnia, diarrhea, anxiety, and tremulousness. Soda contains caffeine
and sodium, both contribute to dehydration and should be avoided. Sleep is very important and many
college students drink caffeine or energy drinks to make up for it but as an athlete, performance will
suffer and might crash on the field or court. "Caffeine is an easy way to cheat on what your body really
needs," Lucido said (Raithel, 2008). As an athlete it is important to take care of the body and give it the
nutrition it needs to be healthy and give you the natural energy that it should have to play the best. The
significance of this current study showed data from a small, private, Midwest, NAIA University about
athlete's consumption of energy and caffeinated drinks before games.
Purpose of the Study:
The author will be studying this topic because many athletes are consuming caffeine before
games. It is not good or healthy on the athlete's bodies and can decrease performance levels. Also the
author will show that sleep is very important to get the energy needed for a game and water is the best
way to stay hydrated. Energy drink and caffeinated drinks may seem good for focus and performance
levels at first but in time it will bring anxiety, sleep problems. This study will show the number of
athletes that believe that energy drinks are ok for college athletics. It will also show the number of
athletes that use these beverages for a bust of energy before games and what specifically they
consume.
Research Questions:
o
What is the percent of small college athletes who consume energy drinks/ caffeine on a regular
basis throughout the week?
o
What is the percent of small college athletes who consume energy drinks/ caffeine before a
game?
o
What is the purpose of college athletes consuming energy drinks/caffeine before a game, and
how much are they consuming?
Definition of Terms:
The energy drinks that the data found were in use of these college athletes
were Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star, Spark, 5 hour energy, and Nos. The other caffeinated beverages
noted in the study were coffee and soda/pop.
Methodology:
Population: Data will show information from a small, private, NAIA University from the female and male
basketball teams, and the baseball and softball teams.
Procedures: The author used a survey as her instrument design. There were 12 questions to the
questionnaire. These written questionnaires were about college athlete's consumption of energy and
caffeinated drinks. A cover letter was written to explain the research that was tallied and the individual's
responses were kept confidential. The author gave the questionnaires to the four coaches of the
different teams. Completed and returned were 18 men's basketball players, 20 woman basketball
players, 28 baseball players, and 17 softball players.
Data Analysis: Data will be collected and analyzed using simple descriptive analysis. Each questionnaire
was tallied, and then, results were made when all questionnaires were evaluated.
Discussion of Results:
Team
MBB
WBB
Baseball
Softball
N
# of Partakers
21.7% (18)
24.1% (20)
33.7% (28)
20.5% (17)
83
Questionnaires were given to four teams at a small NAIA University and all four teams
completed and returned them. All together data was collected from 83 college athletes. Men's
Basketball was among 21.7% of the athletes, Women's Basketball 24.1%, Baseball with the largest
athletes involved with 33.7%, and Softball 20.5% of the partakers as seen in the Table above.
The first question asked "how many days a week do you consume energy drinks". This was then
followed by "how many do you drink on days consumed". The research found that there were only 1 out
of 83 athletes who drank an energy drink daily. The baseball team consumed the most energy drinks on
a regular basis and is the only team that is below 50% that don't consume with 35.7% that don't
consume energy drinks. Most everybody who consumed energy drinks only had one a day. Refer to
Table 1 and 2 below.
Table 1. How many days a week do you consume energy drinks?
Team
Don't
1-2
3-4
5-6
Daily
Consume
MBB
77.8% (14)
11.1% (2)
11.1% (2) 0
0
WBB
80% (16)
10% (2)
5% (1)
0
5% (1)
Baseball 35.7% (10)
60.7% (17) 3.6% (1)
0
0
Softball
82.4% (14)
17.6% (3)
0
0
0
N 65% (54)
29% (24)
4.8% (4)
Table 2. How many do you drink?
Team
1
2
3
4+
MBB
WBB
Baseball
Softball
75% (3)
75% (3)
100% (18)
66.7% (2)
25% (1)
25% (1)
0
33.3% (1)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
N. 89.7%
10.3% (3)
0
0
0
1.2% (1)
The third and fourth questions asked how many days a week do you consume coffee. Then it is
followed by how many do you drink on days consumed. Men's Basketball was the least found to drink
coffee, while softball had the highest percentage to drink coffee. Softball was below 50% of those who
don't consume coffee with 23.5%. The data showed that baseball had 5 men that drank coffee on a daily
basis. Other then baseball there are no numbers that stand out and it is only 17.9% of the team. Refer to
Table 3 and 4 below.
Table 3. How many days a week do you consume coffee?
Team
MBB
WBB
Baseball
Softball
Don't Consume
72.2% (13)
60% (12)
50% (14)
23.5% (4)
N 51.8% (43)
1-2
16.7% (3)
35% (7)
25% (7)
23.5% (4)
3-4
5.6% (1)
0
3.6% (1)
29.4% (5)
5-6
0
0
3.6% (1)
17.6% (3)
Daily
5.6% (1)
5% (1)
17.9% (5)
5.9% (1)
25.3% (21)
8.4% (7)
4.8% (4)
9.6% (8)
Table 4. How much do you drink based on a 12 oz cup?
Team
1
2
3
MBB
60% (3)
40% (2)
0
WBB
87.5% (7)
0
12.5% (1)
Baseball
71.4% (10)
21.4% (3) 7.1% (1)
Softball
53.8% (7)
30.8% (4) 15.4% (2)
N
67.5% (27)
22.5% (9)
10% (4)
4+
0
0
0
0
0
The fifth and sixth question states, how many days a week do you consume Soda/Pop. Followed
by how many do you drink on days consumed. There are a higher percentage of athletes in all four
sports that do consume soda/pop. 61.4% of the 83 athletes surveyed. Men's Basketball had 22.2% of
players who drank a soda/pop daily, the other three sports there were no athletes that consumed daily.
As for the number of cans they drank men's basketball had 38.5% that consumed only one per day and
61.5% of the athletes consumed 2 or 3 per day. While the other sports had higher than 50% of athletes
had only 1 per day. Refer to Table 5 and 6 below.
Table 5. How many days a week do you consume Soda/Pop?
Team
MBB
WBB
Baseball
Softball
Don't Consume
27.8% (5)
45% (9)
42.9% (12)
35.3% (6)
N 38.6% (32)
1-2
38.9% (7)
35% (7)
50% (14)
23.5% (4)
3-4
5.6% (1)
20% (4)
7.1% (2)
29.4% (5)
38.6% (32)
14.5% (12) 3.6% (3)
Table 6. How many do you drink based on
a 12oz. can?
Team
1
2
3
MBB
38.5% (5)
46.2% (6)
15.4% (2)
WBB
81.8% (9)
18.2% (2)
0
Baseball
62.5% (10) 31.3% (5)
6.3% (1)
Softball
54.5% (6)
45.5% (5)
0
N 58.8% (30)
35.3% (18)
5.9% (3)
4+
0
0
0
0
0
5-6
5.6% (1)
0
0
11.8% (2)
Daily
22.2% (4)
0
0
0
4.8% (4)
The seventh question asks do you consume any type of energy drinks or caffeine before a game.
On the baseball team it was split 50 50 for those of them who drink energy drinks or other caffeinated
drinks before a game. Women's basketball, men's basketball, and softball are all over 70% that don't
consume before games. The eighth question was on how if the athlete consumed before every game,
50% of games, or less than 50% of games played. There was at least one athlete from every team that
consumed before every game, although more than half of all the athletes from every team consumed
before less the 50% games played. Refer to Table 7 and 8 below.
Table 7. Do you consume any type of energy drinks
or caffeine before a game?
Table 8. How often:
Team
Yes
No
Before every game
Before 50% of
games
Less than 50%
MBB
WBB
Baseball
Softball
16.7% (3)
15% (3)
50% (14)
29.4% (5)
83.3% (15)
85% (17)
50% (14)
70.6% (12)
33.3% (1)
33.3% (1)
14.3% (2)
20% (1)
0
0
35.7% (5)
20% (1)
66.7% (2)
66.7% (2)
50% (7)
60% (3)
69.9% (58)
N.
24% (6)
56% (14)
N 30.1% (25)
20% (5)
The 9th question was how much do you consume on a game day. Almost every athlete that
drank an energy drink or other caffeinated beverage before a game only drank one can or 12 oz cup
before the game. Question 10 was how many minutes/ hours before the game do you consume. The
questionnaire showed that baseball had all 50% of their players that drank energy drinks or caffeinated
drinks before games drank them within 2 hours of the game. 43% within 30 min. Softball showed that
those who consumed beverages before games did so with in 1-4 hours before the game. There was 60%
within 1-2 hours and 40% within 3-4 hours. For the men's and women's basketball teams there was
insignificant data found.
Question 11 asked why do you consume these things. Some athletes that completed the
questionnaire answered more than one of the selections in Figure and some athletes did not answer this
question. With the data that was collected the greatest picked reason for consumption was quick energy
with 52% from the total number of athletes within each team. Next was that they liked the taste, 42.3%.
Routine followed with 14.3%, increased performance at 4.8%, and addiction at 3.2%. Refer to Table 9
below.
Table 9. Why do you consume these things?
Team
Like the taste
Quick energy
Routine
MBB
WBB
Baseball
Softball
50% (4)
60% (6)
26% (7)
50% (9)
25% (2)
30% (3)
44.4% (12)
33.3% (6)
12.5% (1)
10% (1)
22.2% (6)
5.6% (1)
Increased
performance
12.5% (1)
0
7.4% (2)
0
N 41.3% (26)
52.4% (33)
14.3% (9)
4.8% (3)
Addiction
3.2% (2)
0
0
0
11.1% (2)
The last question was an opinion question on if energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks are
not good for athletes to consume. 72 out of the 83 athletes who surveyed answered this question and
73.6% said that they agreed that energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks are not good for athletes.
19.4% said they disagreed, 11.1% said they strongly agreed, and 0 said they strongly disagreed. Baseball
showed that 36% of the team disagrees. Refer to Table 10 below.
Table 10. OPINION: Energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks are not good for athletes to
consume.
Team
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
MBB
13.3% (2)
73.3% (11)
13.3% (2)
0
WBB
12.5% (2)
75% (12)
12.5% (2)
0
Baseball
8% (2)
56% (14)
36% (9)
0
Softball
12.5% (2)
81.3% (13)
6.3% (1)
0
N 11.1% (8)
73.6% (53)
19.4% (14)
0
Conclusion:
The study found out that 65% of college athletes, from a small college in the Midwest, do not
consume energy drinks. This information was collected by four teams taking surveys, the men's and
women's basketball teams, softball, and baseball team. Out of 83 participants, 29 of them consume
energy drinks on a weekly basis. The study also found that 51.8% of these athletes don't consume
coffee. That makes 40 out of the 83 that do consume coffee on a weekly basis. As for pop/soda this
study found that 38.6% do not consume. 51 out of 83 athletes consume pop/soda on a weekly basis.
The results showed that 30.1%, of the four collegiate teams who participated in the survey,
drink an energy or caffeinated drink before they undertake a competitive game. Taking into account that
56% of them are from the baseball team and more than half of the 83 athletes only consume before
50% of their games.
The study found that 52.4% of the athletes marked that they take these beverages because it
gives them quick energy. While 41.3% marked that they consume energy or caffeinated drinks because
they like the taste. There was only 19.4% of the athletes that reported they "disagreed" that energy and
caffeinated beverages were not good for athletes. It was good to find that after the author evaluated
the questionnaire that 80% of the athletes only consumed one can or 12 oz cup of energy drinks, coffee,
or pop/soda.
Seven different types of energy drinks the researcher found in the assessment. There were 38%
of the athletes that consumed Monster, 17% Red Bull, 7% Rock Star, 7% 5 hour, 21% NOS, 3% Starbucks
double shot, and 7% spark.
Further studies could look at energy and caffeine consumption among genders and the
differences. There can be more research done to compare additional athletic teams as well. More
attention should look at how much sleep college athletes are getting and decisions made that can affect
the way an athlete performs. Schools and coaches need to help educate their teams on what the healthy
choices are for an athlete to perform at the best of their potential.
References:
Caldwell, J. A., & Caldwell, J.L. (2005). Fatiguein military aviation: An overview of U.S. military-approved
pharmacological countermeasures. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 76, C29-C51.
Malinauskas, B.M., Aeby, V.G., Overton, R.F., Carpenter-Aeby, T., & Barber-Heidal, K. (2007). A survey of
energy drink consumption patterns among college students. Nutrition Journal, 6, 35-42.
McCarthy, M. (2009, 07 08). Overuse of energy drinks worries health pros. USA Today, Retrieved from
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2009-07-01-Drinks_N.htm
Raithel, J. (2008, Feb 26). College athletes should avoid drinks containing caffeine. The department of
journalism’s online student magazine, Retrieved from
http://blog.richmond.edu/studentvoice/2008/02/26/college-athletes-should-avoid-drinkscontaining-caffeine/
Stasio, M. J., Curry, K., Wagener, A. L., & Glassman, D. M. (2011). Revving up and staying up: Energy
drink use associated with anxiety and sleep quality in a college sample. College Student Journal,
45 (4), 738-748.
November 2012
Dear Athletes,
My name is Lindsea Vaudt, and I am studying physical education and health here at Concordia
University. As a final research project for my senior seminar class, I am conducting a study on energy
drink and caffeine consumption before games for college athletes.
There are many side effects to athletes who consume caffeine; it can create poor sleeping
habits, dehydration, dieresis, insomnia, diarrhea, anxiety, and tremulousness. As an athlete it is
important to take care of your body and give it the nutrition it needs to be healthy and give you the
natural energy that it should have to play the best. In my research I want to find the percentage of
athletes in a specific sport who consume energy drinks or caffeine before a game. I will compare gender
and then all the different sports teams as well.
Thus, I invite you to complete this questionnaire. It will take 3 minutes or less to complete. Your
specific responses will be kept confidential and will be combined with others for analysis. The
completion of this questionnaire implies your informed consent to be part of this study.
If you have any questions regarding the questionnaire, please contact me (406-261-5882 or
lindsea.vaudt@cune.org) or Dr. Vicki Boye (402-643-7236 or vicki.boye@cune.edu).
Energy Drink and Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire
(Circle all that apply)
Which team are you a member of:
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Softball
Baseball
How many days a week do you consume energy drinks?
A. Don't consume at all
B. 1-2
C. 3-4
D. 5-6
E. Daily
On the days that you consume an energy drink, how many do you drink?
1
2
3
4+
How many days a week do you consume coffee?
A. Don't consume at all
B. 1-2
C. 3-4
D. 5-6
E. Daily
On the days that you consume a coffee, how much do you drink based on a 12 oz. cup?
1
2
3
4+
How many days a week do you consume Soda/Pop
A. Don't consume at all
B. 1-2
C. 3-4
D. 5-6
E. Daily
On the days that you consume a Soda/Pop, how many do you drink based on a 12 oz. can?
1
2
3
4+
Do you consume any type of energy drinks or caffeine before a game?
Yes
No
If YES:
How often:
Before every game
Before 50% of games played
Types of Energy drink:
Monster
Red Bull
Other types of caffeine:
Coffee
Soda/Pop
Less than 50%
Rock Star
5 hour
Others:
Flip to other side
If you consume energy drinks or other caffeine before a game:
How much do you consume on a game day?
Energy Drink can/shot:
1
2
3
4+
Coffee/ Pop 12 oz:
1
2
3
4+
How many minutes prior to the game do you consume?
A. 30 min
B. 1-2 hr
C. 3-4 hr
D. 5+
Why do you consume these things?
Like the taste
Quick energy
Routine
Increase Performance
Addiction
OPINION: Energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks are not good for athletes to consume.
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Thank You!
Strongly Disagree