Energy Drinks: Topical Domain in the Emerging Literature and Neglected Areas of Research.
Prevalence statistics indicate that consumption of Energy drinks (EDs), often in combination with alcohol, is quite popular in the younger generation and particularly with college students. As literature on this topic is advancing at a rapid pace, it seemed instructive to examine which topics are emphasized in emerging EDs research. To that end, a qualitative content analysis was conducted on the 105 articles on EDs identified in a keyword search of the database PsycINFO. Findings show that the major areas of research focus are (in rank order): alcohol-enhanced EDs, cognitive effects, motivation for use, prevalence data, psychotic symptomology, public health policy, educational interventions, poly-drug sequelae, and 'masculine' persona. Moreover, there appears to be a lack of investigatory interest across several germane areas, i.e., academic performance, impact on social relationships, violence potential, social influence, and user naivety. These findings have particular implications for college-age users, since inappropriate consumption of EDs can have dire health and social consequences. Introduction Recently, energy drinks (EDs) have come under intense scrutiny and are considered a potential public health threat (Pomeranz et al., 2013; Seifert et al., 2011). Research on beverage consumption shows that EDs are popular in college student populations and a ubiquitous feature on today's campuses, both in the U.S. and internationally (Arria et al., 2010; Kopacz et al., 2013; Malinauskas et al., 2007; Miller, 2008). Recent survey data show that EDs are consumed by up to 50% of adolescents and young adults (Seifert et al., 2011) and trends point to increased usage among this age group. Interestingly, Cotter and colleagues (2013) found that EDs consumption is more prevalent than the use of illicit drugs and tobacco among the younger generation. Alarmingly, EDs appear to be a mainstay in college athletics due to its performance enhancing attributes (Gwacham & Wagner, 2012; Hoyte et al., 2013). As there is a growing body of research on the topic of energy drinks over the past decade, it appears worthwhile to examine the extant literature on topical areas of emphasis. Such an analysis would identify the emerging investigatory domain regarding EDs, target neglected areas of research, and provide a framework on directions for future research. The implications of such findings seem quite applicable for college-age populations. Method Qualitative research designs have become quite popular in the social sciences (e.g., Piotrowski, 2012). A keyword search (term: "Energy Drinks") was conducted in PsycINFO since this database targets literature from journals with a focus on addiction, consumerism, neurophysiology, nutrition, and public health. A content analysis, based on topical emphasis, was performed on the 105 journal articles identified by the search. A scoring template for tabulation of frequency counts across major topical areas was constructed. Each of the 105 articles was designated by topical area and then the aggregated data were summed across all subject categories. Results and Discussion The results of this bibliometric content analysis indicate that research attention to date is restricted to a limited range of topical subject areas. There appears to be particular focus on the adverse effects of the preference for the Energy drinks-alcohol cocktail in college-age populations (see Table 1). This line of research targets issues like cognitive effects, social judgment, and reckless behavior. Another major investigatory area is the study of the deleterious effects of caffeine levels. Some research cautions that EDs can be particularly problematic in those with serious mental illness. Interestingly, the majority of the research hints at the public health and preventative aspects of EDs use, but few studies are specifically designed to address these important issues. …