Caffeine consumption among university students in Jordan: a cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire

Abstract

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant from the methylxanthine family, and its consumption has notably increased among Arab youth. Despite this trend, empirical studies addressing caffeine consumption patterns among university students in Jordan remain limited. Therefore, this study aims to assess caffeine consumption patterns among Jordanian university students to evaluate their daily caffeine intake in relation to the safe intake level recommended by the European Food Safety Authority. A cross-sectional study was conducted, using a questionnaire structured via Google Forms, and distributed randomly through social media platforms. A total of 400 participants were recruited and completed the questionnaire between March and May 2025. The results showed that the students consumed products containing caffeine. Caffeine consumption was more prevalent among females (70.1%) than among males (29.9%). Coffee was the primary contributor to caffeine intake for both males and females. Participants reported consuming caffeine mainly to enhance academic performance (50.7%), for its unique flavor (50.1%), and to overcome drowsiness (46%). Overall, 46.8% of the participants reported daily caffeine consumption exceeding the safe level of caffeine (400 mg/day). These findings indicate that a considerable percentage of university students consume caffeine at high levels, highlighting the need for awareness and educational initiatives to warn students about the potential health consequences of excessive caffeine consumption.