The (Somewhat Rare) Early Bird College Student Should Skip Their Afternoon Starbucks

A recent study indicates that caffeine intake may be linked to “chronotype,” or the time of day during which a person is most awake

Image: Austin Public Library

Article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=caffeine-disrupts-sleep-f

In this study, fifty college students recorded their caffeine intake and sleeping patterns. They wore devices to monitor movements and the moments in which they awoke after initially falling asleep. Their saliva was measure for caffeine levels throughout the week during which the study was conducted. Since college students in generally sleep deprived, the individuals in the study slept well whenever they were able to get to bed, regardless of caffeine intake. However, those who were morning people spent more time awake after falling asleep the more caffeine they consumed. The same was not found in those that are more alert later in the day. This is the first study that connects caffeine intake with “chronotype,” which categorizes people by the time in the day during which they are more active. Morning people are more likely than night owls to toss and turn during the night. Now, researchers must see if this same trend is found in people who are not college students. Some people rid their bodies of caffeine quicker than others, varying the caffeine levels a person has at bedtime. This makes it difficult for researchers to determine if an individual could avoid the negative effects of caffeine on sleep by passing on coffee or tea in the afternoon or evening.

Our society has become quite obsessed with caffeine. You can find a Starbucks at most popular intersections and every restaurant and fast food places offer tea and coffee. During its hours of operation, Cooper Library’s Java City is rarely, if ever, empty. Due to this reliance on caffeine, it has become increasing more important to research the effects it has on our bodies. This study offers extremely important and relevant information about caffeine’s relationship to sleep, especially for college students. College students have enough trouble getting a reasonable amount of sleep without being kept up at night due to caffeine. Students may drink tea and coffee to make up for the loss of sleep from drinking tea and coffee, creating a vicious circle. Hopefully, this cycle will be interrupted due to the information gained from studies like this one.

I have never enjoyed the smell, let alone the taste, of coffee, and I drink tea rarely. However, I am constantly surrounded by tea drinkers and friends asking me to coffee dates. After reading this article, I am glad I do not rely on caffeine. I am one of the morning people this article shows would be negatively affected by regular caffeine intake. If I have a restless night, I cannot blame my afternoon Starbucks, but my fellow students may.