Caffeine and Daytime Sleepiness

Annette Donnelly
Saint Anselm College
1998
Sleep Well

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The Relationship Between Caffeine Consumption and Daytime Sleepiness
Among a College Population

Key Words: Caffeine Consumption, Daytime Sleepiness, Mood

Abstract

Information regarding the relationship between caffeine and daytime sleepiness may be of great importance to those individuals suffering from a reduction in quality of sleep. Although the drug is often consumed to alleviate daytime sleepiness and fatigue, caffeine has also been linked tofactors contributing to sleep problems. Ninety-three male/female college students were recruited for this study. This population was asked to participate in this investigation, as late adolescents are often reported to be sleep deprived. These students were administered a food diary to estimate caffeine intake over a three-day period, Profile of Mood States Questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale in an attempt to assess the relationship between caffeine consumption and daytime sleepiness. The results from this study revealed that differences were found with the Epworth Scale between students who reported moderate caffeine intake and those who reported high intake of caffeine but not for those who reported zero caffeine intake (N=92; F=2.9; p=.059). Results were similar for the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (n=83; f=3.88; p=.025) with high caffeine users being significantly more sleepy than low to moderate users. However, no difference was found between moderate and nonusers and high and nonusers. Additionally, the POMS revealed that there were no significant differences between self-reports of mood and age, gender, or grade. Therefore, there were no participants excluded from this study as a result of significant mood differences.