Keywords
nonprescription stimulants; substance use behavior; STEM students; perceived stress; STEM vs. non-STEM; study drugs
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the relationship between academic discipline, caffeine consumption, reported perception of stimulant misuse behaviors, and reported academic stress at the University of Central Florida. Participants were categorized as either STEM or non-STEM majors and reported whether they had misused stimulants in the past 12 months and their daily average caffeine consumption. Due to the low number of participants who reported stimulant misuse, caffeine consumption was incorporated, grouping participants as either “above median” caffeine consumption or “below median” caffeine consumption. Two 2 (Caffeine Consumption: High vs. Low) x 2 (Major: STEM vs. Non-STEM) between-subjects ANOVAs were conducted to examine the two DVs: Reported academic stress and perception of stimulant misuse behaviors. It was hypothesized that participants who identified as STEM majors and reported higher caffeine consumption would have higher academic stress scores and perceive stimulant misuse as more acceptable. The results showed that only students who reported caffeine consumption above the median reported significantly higher levels of stress. Limitations include that the intended variable could not be analyzed due to insufficient data, which resulted in caffeine being included as a variable. Understanding these relationships may help inform college campus drug informational programs. Having well-informed programs can help by spreading information regarding stimulant misuse prevention to the student population in a more effective manner.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Summer
Thesis Chair
Chin, Matthew
College
College of Sciences
Department
Psychology
Thesis Discipline
Psychology
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Allie, Camille H., "STEM vs. non-STEM students’ stimulant misuse for academic advantages" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 362.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/362
Rights Statement
