Consumption of energy drinks has become popular and frequent among adolescents across Europe. Previous research showed that regular consumption of these drinks was associated with several health and behavioural problems. The aim of the present study was to determine the socio-demographic groups at risk for regular energy drink consumption and to explore the association of regular energy drinks consumption with health and behavioural problems and negative school experiences in adolescents. Data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study conducted in 2014 in Slovakia were analysed. We assessed socio-demographic characteristics, energy drink consumption, health and behavioural problems and negative school experiences based on self-reports from 8977 adolescents aged 11-15 years (mean age/standard deviation 13/1.33; 50.0% boys). The prevalence of regular energy drink consumption in the present sample was 20.6% (95%CI: 20%-21%). Regular energy drink consumption was more frequent among boys and older adolescents. Adolescents with a medium-level family affluence were less likely to drink energy drinks regularly. Adolescents who consumed energy drinks regularly had more health and behavioural problems and negative school experiences. CONCLUSION: Adolescents drinking energy drinks are at risk of a wide range of negative outcomes and should be specifically addressed by preventive interventions. What is Known • Energy drink consumption has become popular and frequent among adolescents across Europe. • There is growing evidence that energy drink consumption is related to negative social, emotional and health outcomes, but only a few studies have explored this relationship in adolescents. What is New • Regular energy drink consumption was more frequent among boys and adolescents reporting low family affluence and increased with age. • Adolescents reporting regular energy drink consumption were in higher risk to suffer from health and behavioural problems and negative school experiences.

Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health P J Safarik University Trieda SNP 1 040 11 Kosice Slovakia Department of Community and Occupational Medicine University Medical Center Groningen University of Groningen Antonius Deusinglaan 1 9713 AV Groningen The Netherlands

Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health P J Safarik University Trieda SNP 1 040 11 Kosice Slovakia Department of Health Psychology P J Safarik University Trieda SNP 1 040 11 Kosice Slovakia Institute of Research on Children Youth and Family Masaryk University Joštova 218 10 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health P J Safarik University Trieda SNP 1 040 11 Kosice Slovakia Department of Health Psychology P J Safarik University Trieda SNP 1 040 11 Kosice Slovakia Olomouc University Society and Health Institute Palacky University Olomouc Univerzitní 22 771 11 Olomouc Czech Republic

Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health P J Safarik University Trieda SNP 1 040 11 Kosice Slovakia Olomouc University Society and Health Institute Palacky University Olomouc Univerzitní 22 771 11 Olomouc Czech Republic Department of Community and Occupational Medicine University Medical Center Groningen University of Groningen Antonius Deusinglaan 1 9713 AV Groningen The Netherlands

References provided by Crossref.org