The effect of caffeine use in the relationship between gaming and sleep in adolescents: A mediation analysis

Park, Jennifer J. and Han, Xuewei and Potenza, Marc N. and Zhao, Yihong (2025) The effect of caffeine use in the relationship between gaming and sleep in adolescents: A mediation analysis. JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS, 14 (3). pp. 1368-1379. ISSN 2062-5871

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Abstract

Background and aims Caffeine is the most commonly used substance during gaming sessions. Despite health guidelines to avoid caffeine before adulthood, many adolescents use caffeine to compensate for lost sleep or prolong wakefulness to enhance gaming performance. The relationship between gaming and sleep is well-established, but the role of caffeine has been under-explored. This study investigated the potential mediating effect of caffeine use on the relationship between gaming duration/problems and sleep duration/difficulties in young adolescents. Methods The Years 2, 3, and 4 follow-up data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study were analyzed (N = 2,749, Mage = 11.9 at Year 2). Data from questionnaires on daily gaming duration and problematic gaming (Year 2), weekly caffeine use (Year 3), and daily sleep duration and sleep difficulties (Year 4) were examined. Analyses were conducted using an R package for causal mediation analysis. Results Caffeine use partially mediated the positive relationship between gaming hours/problems and sleep difficulties and the negative relationship between gaming hours/problems and sleep duration. Conclusion The mediating effect of caffeine use was small but statistically significant in the relationship between gaming duration/problems and sleep duration/difficulties in young adolescents. Given the widespread use of caffeine among adolescents who game and the potential impact of modifying consumption during development, caffeine use could potentially be targeted to reduce sleep-related harm and other associated health issues.

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