Does Early Exposure to Caffeine Promote Smoking and Alcohol Use Behavior?: A Prospective Analysis of Middle School Students

Alfgeir L. Kristjansson; Steven M. Kogan; Michael J. Mann; Megan L. Smith; Laura M. Juliano; Christa L. Lilly; Jack E. James

doi:10.1111/add.14261

Does Early Exposure to Caffeine Promote Smoking and Alcohol Use Behavior? A Prospective Analysis of Middle School Students

Alfgeir L. Kristjansson
, Steven M. Kogan
, Michael J. Mann
, Megan L. Smith
, Laura M. Juliano
, Christa L. Lilly
, Jack E. James

West Virginia University
University of Georgia
American University
Reykjavík University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Aims
Despite the negative consequences associated with caffeine use among children and youth, its use is increasingly widespread among middle school students. Cross-sectional studies reveal links between caffeine and other substance use. The potential for caffeine use to confer increased vulnerability to substance use, however, has not been investigated using prospective designs. We hypothesized that caffeine use at baseline would be associated positively with increased alcohol use, drunkenness, smoking and e-cigarette use.

Design
Prospective cohort study with 12 months separating baseline from follow-up.

Setting
West Virginia, USA.

Participants
Middle school students (6th and 7th grades; n = 3932) in three West Virginia (WV) counties provided data at baseline and follow-up 12 months later.

Measurements
Youth self-reported their use of caffeine from multiple sources (e.g. soda, energy drinks, coffee and tea), cigarette smoking, electronic cigarette use, alcohol use and drunkenness.

Findings
Cross-lagged path models for individual substance use categories provided a good fit to the data. Controlling for demographic variables and other substance use at baseline, caffeine at time 1 (T1) was associated positively with T2 cigarette smoking (β = 0.27, P = 0.001), e-cigarette use (β = 0.21, P = 0.001), alcohol use (β = 0.17, P = 0.001) and drunkenness (β = 0.15, P = 0.001). Conversely, non-significant relations emerged between three of four substances at T1 and caffeine at T2. Positive relations were found between e-cigarette use at T1 and caffeine use at T2 (β = 0.07, P = 0.006). These findings were supported by an omnibus model with all substances included. Specifically, significant relations were observed between caffeine at T1 and all substance use outcomes at T2, whereas no significant relations were observed between substance use and caffeine over time.

Conclusions
Caffeine may promote early use of other types of substances among middle school-aged adolescents.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	1706-1713
Number of pages	8
Journal	Addiction
Volume	113
Issue number	9
Early online date	30 Apr 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14261
State	Published - Sep 2018
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

alcohol use
Appalachia
caffeine
early adolescents
primary prevention
smoking

EGS Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Educational Sociology
Medicine and Health
Public Health Education and Promotion

Access to Document

10.1111/add.14261License: Unspecified

Cite this

@article{8e808864b1204278b194f4c925677661,

title = "Does Early Exposure to Caffeine Promote Smoking and Alcohol Use Behavior?: A Prospective Analysis of Middle School Students",

abstract = "Background and Aims Despite the negative consequences associated with caffeine use among children and youth, its use is increasingly widespread among middle school students. Cross-sectional studies reveal links between caffeine and other substance use. The potential for caffeine use to confer increased vulnerability to substance use, however, has not been investigated using prospective designs. We hypothesized that caffeine use at baseline would be associated positively with increased alcohol use, drunkenness, smoking and e-cigarette use. Design Prospective cohort study with 12 months separating baseline from follow-up. Setting West Virginia, USA. Participants Middle school students (6th and 7th grades; n = 3932) in three West Virginia (WV) counties provided data at baseline and follow-up 12 months later. Measurements Youth self-reported their use of caffeine from multiple sources (e.g. soda, energy drinks, coffee and tea), cigarette smoking, electronic cigarette use, alcohol use and drunkenness. Findings Cross-lagged path models for individual substance use categories provided a good fit to the data. Controlling for demographic variables and other substance use at baseline, caffeine at time 1 (T1) was associated positively with T2 cigarette smoking (β = 0.27, P = 0.001), e-cigarette use (β = 0.21, P = 0.001), alcohol use (β = 0.17, P = 0.001) and drunkenness (β = 0.15, P = 0.001). Conversely, non-significant relations emerged between three of four substances at T1 and caffeine at T2. Positive relations were found between e-cigarette use at T1 and caffeine use at T2 (β = 0.07, P = 0.006). These findings were supported by an omnibus model with all substances included. Specifically, significant relations were observed between caffeine at T1 and all substance use outcomes at T2, whereas no significant relations were observed between substance use and caffeine over time. Conclusions Caffeine may promote early use of other types of substances among middle school-aged adolescents.",

keywords = "alcohol use, Appalachia, caffeine, early adolescents, primary prevention, smoking",

author = "Kristjansson, \{Alfgeir L.\} and Kogan, \{Steven M.\} and Mann, \{Michael J.\} and Smith, \{Megan L.\} and Juliano, \{Laura M.\} and Lilly, \{Christa L.\} and James, \{Jack E.\}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2018 Society for the Study of Addiction.",

year = "2018",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1111/add.14261",

language = "American English",

volume = "113",

pages = "1706--1713",

number = "9",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Does Early Exposure to Caffeine Promote Smoking and Alcohol Use Behavior?

T2 - A Prospective Analysis of Middle School Students

AU - Kristjansson, Alfgeir L.

AU - Kogan, Steven M.

AU - Mann, Michael J.

AU - Smith, Megan L.

AU - Juliano, Laura M.

AU - Lilly, Christa L.

AU - James, Jack E.

PY - 2018/9

Y1 - 2018/9

N2 - Background and Aims Despite the negative consequences associated with caffeine use among children and youth, its use is increasingly widespread among middle school students. Cross-sectional studies reveal links between caffeine and other substance use. The potential for caffeine use to confer increased vulnerability to substance use, however, has not been investigated using prospective designs. We hypothesized that caffeine use at baseline would be associated positively with increased alcohol use, drunkenness, smoking and e-cigarette use. Design Prospective cohort study with 12 months separating baseline from follow-up. Setting West Virginia, USA. Participants Middle school students (6th and 7th grades; n = 3932) in three West Virginia (WV) counties provided data at baseline and follow-up 12 months later. Measurements Youth self-reported their use of caffeine from multiple sources (e.g. soda, energy drinks, coffee and tea), cigarette smoking, electronic cigarette use, alcohol use and drunkenness. Findings Cross-lagged path models for individual substance use categories provided a good fit to the data. Controlling for demographic variables and other substance use at baseline, caffeine at time 1 (T1) was associated positively with T2 cigarette smoking (β = 0.27, P = 0.001), e-cigarette use (β = 0.21, P = 0.001), alcohol use (β = 0.17, P = 0.001) and drunkenness (β = 0.15, P = 0.001). Conversely, non-significant relations emerged between three of four substances at T1 and caffeine at T2. Positive relations were found between e-cigarette use at T1 and caffeine use at T2 (β = 0.07, P = 0.006). These findings were supported by an omnibus model with all substances included. Specifically, significant relations were observed between caffeine at T1 and all substance use outcomes at T2, whereas no significant relations were observed between substance use and caffeine over time. Conclusions Caffeine may promote early use of other types of substances among middle school-aged adolescents.

AB - Background and Aims Despite the negative consequences associated with caffeine use among children and youth, its use is increasingly widespread among middle school students. Cross-sectional studies reveal links between caffeine and other substance use. The potential for caffeine use to confer increased vulnerability to substance use, however, has not been investigated using prospective designs. We hypothesized that caffeine use at baseline would be associated positively with increased alcohol use, drunkenness, smoking and e-cigarette use. Design Prospective cohort study with 12 months separating baseline from follow-up. Setting West Virginia, USA. Participants Middle school students (6th and 7th grades; n = 3932) in three West Virginia (WV) counties provided data at baseline and follow-up 12 months later. Measurements Youth self-reported their use of caffeine from multiple sources (e.g. soda, energy drinks, coffee and tea), cigarette smoking, electronic cigarette use, alcohol use and drunkenness. Findings Cross-lagged path models for individual substance use categories provided a good fit to the data. Controlling for demographic variables and other substance use at baseline, caffeine at time 1 (T1) was associated positively with T2 cigarette smoking (β = 0.27, P = 0.001), e-cigarette use (β = 0.21, P = 0.001), alcohol use (β = 0.17, P = 0.001) and drunkenness (β = 0.15, P = 0.001). Conversely, non-significant relations emerged between three of four substances at T1 and caffeine at T2. Positive relations were found between e-cigarette use at T1 and caffeine use at T2 (β = 0.07, P = 0.006). These findings were supported by an omnibus model with all substances included. Specifically, significant relations were observed between caffeine at T1 and all substance use outcomes at T2, whereas no significant relations were observed between substance use and caffeine over time. Conclusions Caffeine may promote early use of other types of substances among middle school-aged adolescents.

KW - alcohol use

KW - Appalachia

KW - caffeine

KW - early adolescents

KW - primary prevention

KW - smoking

U2 - 10.1111/add.14261

DO - 10.1111/add.14261

M3 - Article

C2 - 29707859

VL - 113

SP - 1706

EP - 1713

JO - Addiction

JF - Addiction

IS - 9