Subjective Sleep Quality, Caffeine, and Dieting Behaviors Among University-Attending Young Adults

Abstract

Elizabeth A Claydon,1 Jenna M Kahwash,1 Christa L Lilly,2 Yahya Alamir,3 Keith J Zullig1 1Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA; 3Department of Health Education & Promotion, Faculty of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Elizabeth A Claydon, West Virginia University School of Public Health, 64 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9190, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA, Email [email protected]: Research has shown that university students engage in behaviors that are associated with poor sleep quality, such as higher caffeine and alcohol intake. Yet studies exploring eating habits and weight loss mechanisms related to sleep quality have generally been inconclusive. This study explored total daily caffeine consumption (along with different sources of caffeine) as well as dieting and exercising to lose weight in the last 30 days as risk factors for poor sleep quality among an undergraduate university population.Methods: Full-time undergraduate students (n = 400) participated in an anonymous online survey about various health behaviors at a large, mid-Atlantic university. Multivariable linear regressions were run to consider subjective sleep quality in relation to caffeine consumption and dieting behavior along with other covariates. A sensitivity analysis was run to explore how different types of caffeinated beverages were associated with sleep quality as well. All analyses were conducted using SAS JMP Version 16.Results: A stepwise multivariable linear regression controlling for alcohol use, grade point average, biological sex, and stress showed significant increases in sleep quality scores (indicating worsening sleep quality). Total caffeine consumption remained significant through the models until psychosocial factors were added (B = 0.003, p = 0.0035). The sensitivity analysis indicated that total caffeine consumption from soda remained significant across all models, significantly increasing sleep quality scores (B = 0.01; p = 0.0054).Discussion: Higher amounts of caffeine from sodas were associated with more significant decreases in sleep quality than other types of caffeine, including energy drinks, coffee, and tea. Dieting or exercising to lose weight was not significantly associated with sleep quality. The results of this study can help to refine intervention efforts designed to improve sleep quality among undergraduate university students. Behavioral interventions specific to reducing caffeine intake, specifically from caffeinated sodas, may prove to be beneficial with this population.Plain Language Summary: In college, students face risks for worse sleep quality, like consuming more caffeine and feeling more stressed. When scientists studied how eating habits affect sleep, the results were mixed. This study was conducted to see how much caffeine and weight-loss methods affect sleep quality for college students.Researchers used a survey to ask college students about their sleep, caffeine, weight-loss methods, and other behaviors. This study found that drinking more soda was associated with worse sleep quality when compared to drinking coffee, tea, or energy drinks. Drinking alcohol and being stressed also was connected with poorer sleep quality worse. However, researchers did not find a link between weight-loss methods and sleep quality.For college students to have better sleep, interventions should try to lower caffeine intake (especially from soda), alcohol intake, and stress levels.Keywords: caffeine, sleep quality, university students, disordered eating

Keywords

• caffeine
• sleep quality
• university students
• disordered eating