Caffeine Overload During Finals Week: How It Affects College Students 

By Kiley McQuillan

Caffeine use among college students spikes during finals week, giving many an essential boost, but nurses say excessive intake can also trigger increases in anxiety, sleep disruption and heart problems.

At Flagler College, many students rely on caffeine to manage long study hours, saying it helps them stay alert as deadlines approach. One student said she turns to it to get through finals, classes and studying.

“I depend on caffeine quite a bit during finals week,” said Molly Johnson, a Flagler College graduate student. “In order to study and make morning classes, I need it to study at night and then again to stay awake in morning classes or exams.”

Although Johnson does feel many benefits from drinking caffeine, she said the effects aren’t always positive, which she has learned to manage.

“The negative side effects do hinder my performance sometimes and anxiety,” Johnson said. “I think it’s very easy to overindulge or consume too much due to reasons of stress or studying.”

Gricelda Justice, MSN, RN, a Nurse Educator Level II at Walla Walla Community College, said she often sees the effects of students’ caffeine consumption reflected in the classroom during finals.

“Among my students, overconsumption of caffeine- especially during midterms and finals- frequently presents as increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, jitteriness, lack of concentration, agitation and reduced patience or kindness toward peers,” Justice said.

Caffeine consumption is prevalent across many college campuses- not just Flagler.

“During finals week, I drink about two to three energy drinks a day to keep me going while studying. I don’t feel any side effects during the day, but I can never sleep at night, which creates an endless cycle of me relying on energy drinks,” said Cameron Ponich, a junior at the University of North Florida.

The effects of caffeine on young adults aren’t limited to drinking it. Students can also experience symptoms when they reduce their intake.

“I observe that it is often consumed habitually or due to physical reliance, students feel ‘better’ when they have caffeine and experience negative effects- headaches, fatigue, irritability- when they do not,” Justice said.

During finals week, caffeine becomes an important tool for students. While there are other ways to stay awake and focused, many rely on caffeine the most.

“I have tried drinking more water, taking short naps and even doing light exercise, but nothing keeps me awake and focused like caffeine during finals week,” Ponich said. “It is the only thing that helps me get through long nights of studying and early morning classes.”

It is important for students to understand how much caffeine their body can handle. From her experience, Johnson encourages students to be mindful of their caffeine consumption.

“Drink caffeine wisely. Know your limits and know what helps you and what doesn’t. While a certain amount may help and aid one individual it does not mean it’s the same for everyone,” Johnson said.