The purpose of this study was to determine factors related to the consumption of energy drinks among male and female high school students in Daejeon. The research data, derived from the self-administered questionnaire method, was collected from 664 students in fifteen high schools during the spring of 2016. A total of 542 complete questionnaires were analyzed (response rate: 79.8%). Approximately 73% of the students self-reported having consumed energy drinks, with a greater percentage of male (as opposed to female) students self-reporting as having done so. The most common reasons given for the consumption of energy drinks were to stay awake (54.8%), the good taste of the drink (28.0%), to concentrate during studying (17.2%), and to relieve fatigue (16.9%). The adverse effects were palpitation (59.3%), insomnia (35.6%), and experiencing difficulty in waking up (30.5%). More than two in three (67.8%) students who experienced adverse effects still consumed energy drinks. The average level of health consciousness was lower than 3 out of 5 points. The results of the logistic regression analyses indicated a positive relationship between monthly allowance (OR=1.01 for male and female students) and the consumption of energy drinks by both male and female students. Among the male students, freshmen (OR=0.23) were less likely to have consumed energy drinks than juniors. Male students’ sleeping hours (OR=0.65) and perceived school life satisfaction scores (OR=0.63) were negatively associated with the consumption of energy drinks. In the case of female students, study hours (OR=0.83) and energy drinks consumption were negatively related. These factors affecting energy drinks consumption could be considered in the development of dietary education programs aimed at protecting high school students from the adverse health impacts of energy drinks

• 류시현(배재대학교 외식경영학과) | Si-Hyun Ryu Corresponding author