PSY1SFP Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Introduction

Energy drinks containing caffeine such as redbull are consumed by many individuals globally. The high level of consumption is not only attributed to their taste due to high percentage of calories, but also to added effects such as energy boost and enhanced cognitive function (Farsad-Naeimi, et al 2020). Caffeine is a stimulant that naturally occurs in the leaves and seeds of many plants. However, with advances in technology caffeine can also be synthesized in the laboratories and added to desired products.

Generally, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system after a certain reaction time enhancing alertness and cognitive function of the consumer. Alertness and enhanced cognitive function are mainly attributed to high energy levels, which enhance function of vital organs such as the brain. It is estimated that approximately eighty percent of the adult population on a global level, consume products containing caffeine on a daily basis (Etnier, et al 2021). The percentage of children that consume products containing caffeine, on a global context is slightly lower when compared to that of adults at seventy three percent.

Low levels of caffeine consumption among children especially pre-teens is mainly attributed to parental control. However, those who consume caffeinated products do so out of external factors; such as peer pressure from fellow schoolmates and general lifestyle changes. According to several evidence based studies consumption of these products by pre-teens in small doses; enhances their attentional abilities which is a desirable trait in order to attain good performance. However, excessive consumption could result to unwanted effects such as: restlessness, high levels of excitement, gastro intestinal disturbances and nervousness.

After consumption of a product containing caffeine such as redbull, effects such as enhanced attention are observed within a few minutes afterwards (Barker, 2020). Caffeine has a half-life of approximately six hours; hence it takes six hours to reduce the concentration absorbed in the blood by half. Products that contain caffeine and are appealing to preteens include: peach Snapple, mountain dew, instant coffee, iced tea and monster energy drink.

Despite the advantages associated with consumption of caffeine products in low doses among preteens, several studies encourage nil consumption. This is mainly attributed to presence of other substances such as guarana, which are present in caffeinated products and are generally unhealthy to pre-teens. Parents are encouraged to advise their children on the importance of practicing healthy eating habits, in order to prevent dependence on foods such unhealthy beverages that contain high levels of caffeine.

In connection with the literature above from several evidence based studies, this study aimed at determining if caffeinated energy drinks affect the psychological attention span within pre-teens between the ages of nine to twelve years. This aim would be achieved by selecting sixty eligible participants in terms of age from a primary school (Ervina, et al 2020). Consent would then be obtained from the children’s parents in order to include them in the study.

Afterwards the participants would be divided into an experimental group and a control group. Results obtained after the experimental procedure would then be compared to determine if the aim is supported. It was hypothesized that the experimental group would have better attention than the control group.  

Method

Detailed experimental procedures had to be carried out in order to determine if caffeinated drinks, affect the psychological attention span within pre-teens between the ages of 9 to 12 years. Sixty participants from a primary school aged nine to twelve years were included in the study. Recruitment of the pre-teens was done using flyers at primary schools that provided parents, who could be interested in enrolling their children with the researchers contact (Bergner, 2019).

Children below nine years and those above twelve years were not included in the study, due to high levels of accuracy needed from the study. This could be limited when high age ranges are used. After obtaining consent from willing parents, participants were then divided into an experimental group and a control group that consisted of thirty members each. The experimental group was given a 250 ml can of caffeinated energy drink, twenty minutes prior to the experiment. The control group received no treatment prior to the experiment.

Both groups were then engaged in 75 different attentional activities and results obtained recorded using the attentional ability scale (Blasiman, et al 2018). Activities carried out included puzzle, word recall and memory game. The scale used ranged from one being the lowest rating and 3 being the highest rating. A report on the study findings was then generated and the findings disseminated to the participants parents. Attentional ability scale was preferred due to its descriptive nature that enhanced accuracy of the results obtained. The main limitation of the methodological procedure was lack of concrete explanation, on  good performance that was obtained from some participants in the control group.

Results

Detailed analysis was done on the data obtained after undertaking seventy five different attentional activities. The main outcome that was evaluated by the researchers was improved attentional ability among the participants (Vennerød, et al 2017). Statistical inputs that were used when carrying out analysis of the two variables are: mean, standard deviation, standard error, t test and p value. These methods enhanced accuracy of the findings as they enabled analysis of different variables.

From the above figure the calculations were derived as follows:

1. a) Mean of the experimental group

= (sum of all entries divided by n) =75/30

=2.5

1. b) Mean of the control group

= (sum of all entries divided by n)

=37.5/30

=1.25

1. c) Standard deviation of the experimental group

= (7.52-4.01) (7.52-4.01)/2.1

=0.5

1. d) Standard deviation of the control group

= (3.7-2.69) (3.7-2.69)/2.01

=0.62

1. e) Lower and upper 95% CI for the difference between means

Lower limit=M1-M2-(tcl) (SED)

=2.5-1.25-(1.234) (1.0)

=1.230

1. f) Upper limit=M1-M2 +(tcl) (SED)

=2.5-1.25+ (1.234) (1.0)

=1.467

From the excel inputs the t test value was 1.234 and the p value was 0.61. Based on the mean values obtained above there was a significant difference between the attentional abilities of the experimental group and the control group. As hypothesized the attentional span of the experimental group was higher compared to that of the control group. t test value of 1.234 proved that there was a significance difference between the attentional span of the experimental group and the control group. This was also evidenced by the 0.61 p value which was greater than 0.5 and implied that there was  a significant difference between the two variables tested.

Discussion

The main aim of this study was to determine whether consumption caffeinated energy drinks (redbull) affect the psychological attention span within pre-teens between the ages of nine to twelve years. In order to achieve this goal successfully sixty students from a primary school, who met the inclusion criteria were included in the experimental study (Verma, 2020). Inclusion criteria mainly involved being within the set age ranges and consent obtained from the parents.

Participants were then categorized into two groups, one experimental group and the other the control group of thirty participants each. Those in the experimental group were given 250 ml can of redbull, twenty minutes before the experiment begun. Participants of the control group engaged in the experiment without any pretreatment. The main technique involved engaging participants in seventy five different attentional skills and subsequently recording the results obtained. Activities carried out such as puzzle and memory recall required some level of cognitive thinking in order to succeed (Hwang, et al 2017).

Findings of the study indicated that the experimental group performed better than the control group in the activities. Good performance was mainly attributed to caffeine intake, which enhanced their attention span for long during the activities. Furthermore, they had higher energy levels that sustained them during the activities compared to the control group. Control group participants did not perform well due to low concentration span and probably got fatigued easily due to the high number of activities.

The attentional ability scale was selected as an evaluation tool due to several advantages associated with its use. These include the ability to rate attention capabilities on a varied range of scale, that is from one which was the lowest rating to three which was the highest rating. However, the main limitation of using attentional activities as a methodology; for determining attention span was the relatively high number of activities. Some participants even those in the experimental group got fatigued and started showing significant decline in their performance.

Based on the findings of the study the hypothesis was supported to a greater extent. It was expected that the experimental which received energy drinks would perform better in the activities compared to the control group (Baranei, et al 2021). This was the case evidenced by the means of the experimental and the control group. Furthermore, findings of the study agreed with findings of several evidence based studies. Most studies stipulate that consumption of products which contain caffeine enhances attentional abilities of an individual which was evidenced in the experimental group.

In summary, consumption of caffeinated energy drinks enhances the attentional capabilities of an individual. This was evidenced among the pre teens who received 250 ml of redbull prior to the attentional activities. They performed well compared to the experimental group that did not receive any pre treatment. Enhanced attention is generally attributed to the high calorie levels of the drinks that enhances function of the brain. However, caffeinated products should be consumed moderately due to adverse effects associated with toxicities. Pre- teens should also be encouraged to consume healthy diets and avoid regular consumption of caffeinated drinks that could be harmful to their health.

References

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Barker, A. E. (2020). Promoting Healthy Internet Gaming Among Preadolescent Youth: A DBT-Informed Program (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University).

Bergner, N. (2019). High Energy Drink Consumption and its Associated Factors: Using the Prototype Willingness Model to analyze the Differences between Low, Mediate, and High Sensation-Seekers in the Determinants of Energy Drink Consumption (Bachelor's thesis, University of Twente)..

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Farsad-Naeimi, A., Asjodi, F., Omidian, M., Askari, M., Nouri, M., Pizarro, A. B., & Daneshzad, E. (2020). Sugar consumption, sugar sweetened beverages and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 102512.

Hwang, J., Castelli, D. M., & Gonzalez-Lima, F. (2017). The positive cognitive impact of aerobic fitness is associated with peripheral inflammatory and brain-derived neurotrophic biomarkers in young adults. Physiology & behavior, 179, 75-89.

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