Objectives: This study was conducted to determine energy drink (ED) consumption and the associated risk factors among Palestinian university students, particularly concerning gender differences. Methods: A crosssectional study was conducted in 2017 across five public universities in the West Bank, Palestine. A selfadministrated questionnaire was distributed between 2100 students to achieve the above objectives. Results: The response rate was high (84.9%), with 1782 students (44.8% males, 55.2% females) completing the questionnaire. The findings indicated that the prevalence of ED intake was high for both lifetime users (66.4%; 83.5% males, 52.3% females) and current users (43.5%; 62.5% males, 31.4% females). Around 82.4% of users had consumed EDs regularly on a daily or weekly basis. Regular consumption of ED was associated with risky behavior, including self-reporting violent behavior, smoking tobacco, alcohol intake, and illicit drug use. Different factors influenced the consumption of ED, including family and social peer pressure, parents’ education levels and relationships, and students’ relationships with their fathers. Consumption was more prevalent among males, working students, and refugees. Common reasons for consuming ED were to increase energy levels, cope with anger, combat sleepiness, and for its taste. Conclusion: The results in this study highlight an alarming situation concerning EDs intake among young Palestinians. They provide insight into the consumption patterns of EDs among university students and shed light on their potential adverse effects. This data can be reviewed when considering regulations over ED and similar products. Keywords: energy drink, smoking, Palestinians, caffeine intoxication, risk factors

Title

CONCURRENT DISORDERS SOCIETY

Publisher

Published in Toronto, Canada @Concurrent Disorders Society Inc.

Publisher Country

Canada

Publication Type

Online only

Volume

3

Year

2021

Pages

19-31