Gender Differences and Predictors of High-Risk Energy Drink Use among College students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: This study aimed to compare energy drink (ED) use between male and female college students and identify predictors of high-risk ED use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 256 students (125 males, 131 females) from two universities between October 2023 and January 2024. High-risk ED use was defined as consuming EDs at least once per week or mixing them with alcohol. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors. Results: A total of 85.5% of participants reported lifetime ED use, with a mean initiation age of 16.8 years. Among ED users, 16.9% consumed EDs at least once per week, and 21.5% reported mixing them with alcohol. Notably, 62.1% reported increased consumption during examination periods. Males were more likely to use EDs, mix them with alcohol, exercise regularly, and smoke, whereas females reported higher depression levels and greater peer influence. Predictors of high-risk ED use included male gender, earlier initiation, smoking, and insufficient sleep (< 7 hours/day). Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive interventions that integrate education on ED and AmED risks, links with smoking and alcohol, peer influence, and stress management. University health centers can play a leading role in delivering such programs through student-preferred platforms. Sustained impact may require institutional commitment and policies such as restricting ED sales in campus vending machines or mandating warning labels about the risks of excessive consumption.