Introduction: Teachers in Slovenia have been noticing the increased consumption of energy drinks among pupils. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate habits that contribute to the frequency of energy drink consumption.
Method: 36 teens participated in the study: elementary school pupils (6th and 8th grades), general upper secondary school pupils, and secondary technical school pupils (1st and 3rd year). In the course of the study 6 group interviews were held to help investigate young people's habits and their reasons for energy drink purchase and consumption. Moreover, we investigated the influence of age on the consumption and knowledge about energy drink ingredients, as well as their influence on the body.
Results: Interview analysis showed that energy drink consumers are predominantly secondary school pupils. Their choice most frequently depends on the price, their taste, or the brand. What influences elementary school pupils' purchasing decisions are price, packaging, and advertisements, while secondary school pupils choose their drinks according to the lack of energy and how tired they feel. The predominant factors preventing energy drink consumption are health problems among family members and friends. Secondary school pupils know more about energy drink ingredients than elementary school pupils.
Conclusion: On the basis of these findings, we will design a survey questionnaire for Slovenian teenagers and teachers, didactic material, and suggestions for improving educational programmes.
Namen: Učitelji v Sloveniji opažajo povečano uporabo energijskih pijač med mladostniki. Zato je namen in cilj te raziskave proučiti navade mladostnikov, ki prispevajo k pogostosti uživanja energijskih pijač.
Metoda: V raziskavo je bilo vključenih 36 mladostnikov, ki obiskujejo 6. in 8. razred osnovne šole ter 1. in 3. letnik gimnazije in srednje strokovne šole. Opravili smo 6 skupinskih intervjujev, v katerih smo raziskovali navade ter razloge za uživanje in nakup energijske pijače, vpliv starosti na uživanje ter poznavanje sestavin energijskih pijač in njihovega vpliva na telo.
Rezultati: Analiza intervjujev je pokazala, da jih pogosteje uživajo srednješolci kot osnovnošolci. Za posamezni izdelek iz ponudbe se odločijo na podlagi cene, okusa ali poznavanja blagovne znamke. Pri nakupu bi osnovnošolce pritegnile cena, embalaža ter reklame, srednješolce pa še lastna povečana utrujenost in pomanjkanje energije. Kot najizrazitejši zaviralni dejavnik uživanja teh pijač so zdravstvene težave bližnjih in prijateljev. Srednješolci poznajo več sestavin energijskih pijač kot osnovnošolci.
Zaključek: Na podlagi naše raziskave bomo pripravili anketne vprašalnike za širšo raziskavo med slovenskimi mladostniki in učitelji, pripravili didaktično gradivo za to tematiko ter predloge za izboljšanje izobraževalnih programov.
Keywords: Slovenia; energy drinks; habits; teens.
© 2021 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo.