Exams and energy drinks: quick fix or hidden problem?

Irene Vega

Currently, there are few studies addressing energy drink consumption in the university setting and the risk factors associated with its intake.

The research conducted by URJC professors is one of the few studies that analyzes, from an epidemiological perspective, its consumption during periods of increased stress, such as exam season, and at other times during the academic year.

The results reveal that 81% of respondents say they consume these beverages because they help them stay awake and focused. Furthermore, 65% believe there are insufficient prevention campaigns and information about their effects. Something hidden in this study, but still latent, is the consumption of energy drinks mixed with alcohol, a highly important aspect since this combination mitigates the effects of alcoholic beverages.

This study has been presented at the 15th International Congress of the Spanish Association of Bioethics and Medical Ethics (AEBI)The research team is led by Professor Yolanda Valcárcel, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, along with professors from the Pharmacology department: Gema Vera, Nancy Paniagua, and Miguel Martínez, and Professor Yolanda Segura, from the Chemical Engineering department. Together, they make up the ApSUM group. Also collaborating were Pablo Palomares, a Nursing student and physiotherapist, and Pharmacy students Lady E. Vera and Irene Moreno.

“Student collaboration has been essential to understanding how students feel in situations of stress or anxiety, situations that teachers are increasingly detecting,” says Yolanda Valcárcel.

The project, funded by the URJC Student Observatory, paves the way for future initiatives aimed at promoting health and preventing the consumption of these beverages among university students.