2 research outputs found
Caffeine exposure from beverages and its association with self-reported sleep duration and quality in a large sample of Icelandic adolescents
Funding Information: This work was supported by funding from the Icelandic Ministry of Industries and Innovation. The Ministry had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or reporting. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The AuthorsPrevious risk assessments have concluded that adolescent's caffeine exposure from energy drinks (ED) are of limited concern. Recent surveys have, however, shown substantial increase in consumption. This cross-sectional survey conducted in 2020 estimated caffeine exposure from beverages among ∼80% of all 13-15-year-old adolescents (n = 10358) relative to the European Food Safety Authority's level of no safety concern of (3.0 mg/kg bw) and level for effects on sleep (1.4 mg/kg bw). Associations with self-reported sleep duration and quality were also explored. ED consumers were more likely to exceed the limit of no safety concern (prevelance: 12–14%) compared to non-ED-consumers (1–2%). Exceeding the limit for effects on sleep was also higher among ED consumers (31–38%) than non-ED-consumers (5–8%). Across categories of low (3.0 mg/kg bw) caffeine intake, the prevalence of participants sleeping <6 h increased from 3% to 24%, respectively. The corresponding adjusted Prevalence Ratio was 4.5 (95% CI: 3.6, 5.7) and mean decrease in duration of sleep was 0.74 h (95% CI: 0.65, 0.84). In conclusion, caffeine intake from beverages above the limit of no safety concern was largely confined to ED consumers. Consistent with effects from intervention studies in adults, caffeine intake was strongly associated with self-reported sleep duration in this representative population.Peer reviewe
Building the basis for primary prevention : Factors related to cigarette smoking and alcohol use among adolescents
Background
Cigarette smoking and alcohol use influence morbidity and premature death
all over the world. Studies have shown that most life-time smokers and
adult heavy drinkers began their use during their adolescent years and
between 80-90% of them before the age of 18. Thus, early onset of smoking
and alcohol use increases the risk of later dependence. Alcohol use and
cigarette smoking among adolescents are also strongly correlated
behaviors. Adolescents who initiate smoking are much more likely to begin
using alcohol at an early age than those who do not, and vice verse.
Furthermore, both cigarette smoking and alcohol use among adolescents are
known to be gateways to the use of other substances, adding further to
the negative consequences of smoking and alcohol use. Hence, early
identification of key determinants for adolescent cigarette smoking and
alcohol use may serve to decrease the likelihood of later substance use
development and related health problems and delinquent behaviors.
Aims and objectives
The aim of this project is to investigate several important factors in
the social environment of Icelandic adolescents that contribute to the
likelihood of cigarette smoking and alcohol use initiation and
progression. Senior public health scholars have highlighted the need for
an increase in inter-disciplinary approaches for public health research
and practice. Consequently, the coverage builds on a literature from both
the social- and public health sciences.
Material and method
The data for studies I-III is based on the population-based
cross-sectional survey, Youth in Iceland in 2006. The study was designed
to monitor adolescent health risk behaviors and social circumstances
among others. The study base includes all noninstitutionalized children
who were enrolled in the obligatory 9th and 10th grades, ages 14 to 15
years, in all secondary schools in Iceland during March 2006. A total of
7,430 students in 9th and 10th grade (49% males) completed the
questionnaire in 2006, yielding a response rate of 81% of the total
population of these cohorts. The study base in study IV is pooled data
from five cross-sectional studies in the Youth in Iceland series, from
the years; 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009. The emphasis is on changes
in trends of substance use and associated risk and protective factors.
Data collection was carried out using the same protocol as in the 2006
study. The study base varied between 7,882 and 9,278 individuals, and
respondents numbered between 6,346 and 7,758 (81 to 90% of the total
population).
Results
The findings of study I suggest that multiple social factors are related
to smoking behaviors among adolescents, including alcohol use. Of all
factors considered, peer smoking was by far the strongest predictor of
occasional- and daily smoking. Perceived friends attitude to smoking was
also found to be important and so was perceived parental reactions to
smoking.
Study II shows that increase in probability of smoking and alcohol use
among adolescents that have experienced parental divorce or separation
does not need to be a fact. Such increase in likelihood is largely
accounted for by family conflicts.
Study III further tests the relationship between parental- and peer
social support, parental and peer use, and smoking and alcohol use.
Results suggest that perceived parental reactions and peer respect for
use are important variables in addition to peer use. Other factors, such
as parental use, were not found to be important.
Study IV finds that smoking and alcohol use has decreased substantially
in Iceland during the last 12 years and so has party lifestyle among
youth. On the other hand, parental monitoring and participation in
organized sports have increased during the same time period.
Study IV also finds that the relative decrease in substance use was
greater in communities that have been using a specified community-based
prevention approach than in the comparison communities. Moreover, the
relative increase in supportive mechanisms such as parental monitoring
and sports participation was greater in intervention communities than in
the comparison communities, and so was the subsequent decrease in
prevalence of party lifestyles.
Discussion
These results challenge the current sphere of knowledge in several ways.
First, study findings suggest that multiple social factors influence
smoking behaviors among adolescents, including alcohol use. Prevention
approaches and programs should account for such diversity while at the
same time considering contextual factors such as socio-economic
background that are known to be important determinants for the likelihood
of adolescent smoking. Second, by avoiding family conflicts, including
direct conflict between parents and their children, before and after
separation, parents can prevent increase in likelihood of cigarette
smoking and alcohol use initiation by their children. Third, by
demonstrating to their children that adolescent cigarette smoking and/or
alcohol use are not acceptable behaviors, parents can substantially
decrease the likelihood of such use by their adolescent children.
Likewise, through supportive mechanisms (e.g. healthy leisure time
activities) and motivation around the peer group, prevention work should
target peer respect for smoking and/or alcohol use as an important factor
that may increase the likelihood of such use. Finally, prevention
activities conducted in several municipalities in Iceland over the past
12 years have shown that by stressing health promotion in the local
community setting and collaboration with local youth- and prevention
workers, cigarette smoking and alcohol use has decreased more than in the
non-participating communities. Likewise, the relative increase in
protective factors was greater in collaborative communities. This was
true even though Iceland has a small and homogeneous population and
contamination and co-intervention effects are difficult to assess