To brew or not to brew: caffeine consumption motivations and psychological outcomes among young adults

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance globally, with both beneficial and adverse psychological effects reported at different levels of consumption. This study investigates the role of motivations in moderating the relationship between caffeine intake and psychological outcomes, specifically stress, anxiety, and depression, among young adults (N = 176, Mage = 22.66) utilising a cross-sectional design. Moderation analysis revealed that hedonic motivations, including emotional symptom reduction and enjoyment, moderate the relationship between caffeine intake and stress, as well as anxiety at low levels of motivation. Conversely, motivation for emotional symptom reduction moderated the relationship between caffeine intake and depression at high levels of consumption. These findings provide preliminary insights into how motivations influence the psychological impacts of caffeine and suggest potential directions for future research with implications for intervention. Further research is recommended to explore these findings across different populations and to validate motivation-based strategies for improving individual and public health outcomes.