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Coffee drinking among Finnish youth
E Hemminki1, O Rahkonen, A Rimpelä
1Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Coffee consumption among Finnish youth declined between 1977-1985. Coffee drinkers, particularly heavy users, were associated with lower social class, rural living, poorer school performance, and other unhealthy habits.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Concerns regarding potential negative health effects of coffee consumption have increased medical interest in coffee-drinking habits.
- Understanding coffee use patterns in young populations is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate coffee consumption trends among Finnish youth from 1977 to 1985.
- To identify differences between young coffee users and non-users.
Main Methods:
- Utilized questionnaire data from representative nationwide samples of Finnish youth aged 12-18.
- Analyzed coffee consumption, socio-demographic factors, school achievement, and health behaviors over an eight-year period.
Main Results:
- Coffee use decreased across all studied age and socio-demographic groups between 1977 and 1985.
- In 1981, daily coffee consumption ranged from 35% in 12-year-old girls to 75% in 18-year-old boys.
- Coffee users, especially heavy users (≥4 cups/day), were more likely to be from lower social classes, live rurally, have poorer school achievement, smoke, and perceive their health as poorer.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a decline in coffee consumption among Finnish adolescents during the study period.
- Coffee use in youth is associated with specific socio-demographic and behavioral factors, but these differences in perceived health diminish when adjusted for background and habits.
- Heavy coffee consumption in adolescents warrants further investigation regarding its long-term health implications.