Korean J Health Promot.  2025 Mar;25(1):29-36. 10.15384/kjhp.2025.00031.

Comparative Study of Middle and High School Students on the Relationship between High-Caffeine Drinks and Mental Health

• PARK J
• YUN H

• KMID: 2566302
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2025.00031

Abstract

Background
This study aim to compare between middle and high school students on the relationship of high-caffeine drinks and mental health.
Methods
This national cross-sectional secondary study used data from the 20th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2024). The respondents of this study were 54,653 middle and high school students. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and complex sample logistic regression analysis were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0.
Results
Respondents of ‘much’ perceived stress consumed 1.493 times (P<0.001) more high-caffeine drinks in middle school and 1.699 times (P<0.001) in high school than those of ‘little.’ Respondents of ‘yes’ sadness & despair consumed 1.189 times (P<0.001) more high-caffeine drinks in middle school and consumed 1.142 times (P<0.001) in high school than those of ‘no.’ Suicidal ideation and loneliness variables were statistically significant in middle school, but not in high school.
Conclusions
It was concluded that middle and high school students who were more stressed and experienced sadness & despair consumed more high-caffeine drinks. However, only middle school students who experienced suicidal ideation and loneliness consumed more high-caffeine drinks. Recognizing each characteristic of middle and high school students, tailored intervention program should be developed based on the community and school.

Keyword

Mental health; High-caffeine drinks; Middle school student; High school student