CAFFEINE INTAKE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH STRESS AND SLEEP QUALITY AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA (IIUM) KUANTAN

Abstract

Introduction: Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyl xanthine) has become one of the most popular and globally distributed ergogenic aids as well as the most used stimulant in the world. University students in Malaysia and globally tend to consume caffeinated beverages to stay up late and complete their daily tasks, especially during examination period and for coursework completion, which lead to stress and trouble getting enough restful sleep due to their irregular bedtime routines. Thus, this cross-sectional study is aimed to determine the frequency of caffeine intake among undergraduate students in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan and its association with stress and sleep quality. Methods: A convenience sampling involving 290 (n=145 male, n=145 female) undergraduate students aged 19 to 25 years were recruited from six different Kulliyyah. A combination of Caffeine Consumption Pattern, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires were used to collect the data from the respondents. The data were assessed using SPSS (Version 26.0) using descriptive analysis and Fisher’s Exact Test. Results: This study found no significant association between the frequency of caffeine intake among male and female students (p=0.068). There was also no significant association between the frequency of caffeine intake and stress level (p=0.548), and sleep quality (p=0.349). Conclusions: Although most of the students frequently consumed caffeine in a week, no association between frequency of caffeine intake, stress level and sleep quality among IIUM Kuantan students were identified. It can be concluded that the relationship between frequency of caffeine consumption, stress levels, and sleep quality is complex and varies from person to person due to multiple factors.