Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Coffee and Chocolate in the Academic Performances of SHS

Students of MCL

Outline of Review of Related Literature

I. Effects of coffee on the academic performance of students

a. The caffeine in coffee is a mild stimulant in the central nervous system. It can increase alertness
and performance while simultaneously helping in learning abilities such as enhancing short term
memory and concentration (Nestle, n.d.).
b. Large amounts of intake of coffee can impose a health threat in the human body, it could cause
problems like jitteriness and sleeping problems. This side effects can have a negative impact on
your academic performance as youll get distracted instead of concentrating on your studies
(McWilliams, 2014).
c. Caffeine may improve memory only if it is consumed after learning (Nature Science, 2014).
d. Caffeine functions in your brain by blocking activity of a chemical called adenosine which
functions as a depressant and results to drowsiness when it binds to receptors on brain cells
(Tremblay, 2015).
e. Mental alertness is directly connected to academic performance. It is what enables students to
pay attention to lectures, study, and take tests. Mental alertness is dependent upon both
sleepiness and concentration (Treanor, 2014).

II. Intervening Factors

a. Sleep

1. Sleep is a vital necessity for people to live a healthy lifestyle in which they can
function well and think properly. It helps with memory consolidation, learning,
decision-making, and critical thinking (Gilbert & Weaver, 2010).

2. Sleepiness influences how well an individual function. Individuals may be able to

fight extreme tiredness, but lapses of attention and errors are inevitable (Dinges
et al., 1997; Patrick and Gilbert, 1896; Van Dongen et al., 2003).

3. It has typically been assumed that the increase in errors made while sleepy is
primarily because of lapses in attention (Lubin, 1967).

4. Of all the health problems investigated, poor sleep was among the most
unexpected and definitive causes of poor academic achievement, (Taras, 2006).

b. Depression

1. Theres a clear relationship between adolescent depression and how well a teen
does in school. In fact, lower grades might be the first noticeable sign of depression
(Teen Depression and School Performance, 2017). Depression creates a void that
disables a student to excel in his/her academic performance.
 2. Research indicates that adolescents who suffer from depression are less likely to
graduate (Teen Depression and School Performance, 2017). College students who
suffer from depression are more likely to commit suicide or to limit themselves.

3. Depressed teens will often refuse to complete tasks they feel are too difficult or
overwhelming, particularly if it causes them to doubt their ability to complete the
task (Teen Depression and School Performance, 2017).

c. Chronic health problems

1. Diabetes can affect students in several ways: both hyperglycaemia and

hypoglycaemia can affect a student's cognitive functioning and, thus, school
performance. Finally, even where blood glucose levels are maintained within
reasonably acceptable ranges fluctuations can affect a student's ability to
concentrate and learn (Legal Rights of Students with Diabetes, n.d.).

III. Effects of chocolate on the academic performances of students

a. The release of neurotransmitters, a chemical substance, by the intake of chocolate
can affect the brain. Neurotransmitter transmits an impulse from a nerve cell to
another nerve. This neurotransmitter has a great impact in how we feel. Endorphin
is a happy neurotransmitter which means this helps reduce stress. The intake of
chocolates increases the level of endorphin sent to the brain, thats why chocolate is
called a comfort food. This helps reduce pain and stress (Coveleskie, 2004).
b. Chocolate is not just tasty, but also good for your health. This also helps elderly to
keep their brains healthy and sharp, this is because chocolates helps increase the
blood flow in the brain. It could also make your heart healthy, can potentially make
you slim and can help you in appetite control (Enos, 2013).
c. People who intake chocolate once or twice a week improves their memory and
abstract thinking and it actually improve your brain function (Graham, 2016).

IV. Socio demographic profile of the respondents

1. Age

a. Your true age is not just the number of years you have lived," says IIASA researcher
Sergei Scherbov. "It also includes characteristics such as health, cognitive function,
and disability rates" (New definition for old age, 2013).
b. The respondents are Senior High School who are 16-18 in age. The term young adult
is usually for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 (Williams, 2016).
c. Adolescence is an invention of modern civilization. It lacks the universality
and naturalness that are innate to such statuses as childhood and adulthood
(Sebald, 1992).
 2. Gender
a. The English language, the terms sex and gender are often used interchangeably
in the vernacular. However, in a medical and technically scientific sense, these
words are not synonymous. Increasingly, the term gender is being accepted to
define psychophysiologic processes involved in identity and social role (Ghosh,
2015).

References:

Tesoro, A. (n.d.). The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Academic Performance. Retrieved from
http://web.csulb.edu/~atesoro/effects_of_sleep.pdf

Treanor, W. (2014, May 3). A Cognitive Psychology Blog. Retrieved from

https://web.colby.edu/cogblog/2014/05/03/does-caffeine-help-academic-performance/

Stages of Adolescence. (2015, November 21). Retrieved from

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx

Murphy, T., Richard, M., Masaki, H., & Segalowitz, S. (2006, February 20). Wiley Online Library. Retrieved
from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2006.00503.x/full

Teen Depression and School Performance. (2017). Retrieved from https://paradigmmalibu.com/teen-

depression-school-performance/

How Health Affects a Child's School Performance. (2006, April 7). Retrieved from
https://health.ucsd.edu/news/2006/Pages/04_07_Taras.aspx

Tremblay, S. (2015, September 25). The Effects of Caffeine on Students. Retrieved from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/323754-the-effects-of-caffeine-on-students/

Jogalekar, A. (n.d.). Scientific American. Retrieved January 14, 2014, from

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/the-curious-wavefunction/should-you-drink-coffee-before-
or-after-a-learning-task/

Legal Rights of Students with Diabetes . (n.d.). Retrieved from

Web.diabetes.org/Advocacy/legalmaterials/LegalRights/LR-Chap2.pdf.

Coveleskie, K. (2004). Chocolate on the Brain. Retrieved from

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro04/web1/kcoveleskie.html

Enos, D. (2013, September). 4 Reasons Chocolate is good for your health. Retrieved from
https://www.livescience.com/39733-reasons-chocolate-good-health.html

Graham, C. (2016, March). Chocolate make you smarter, study suggests. Retrieved from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12187042/Chocolate-makes-you-smarter-
study-suggests.html
Members:

Abello, Josert
Latcharon, Danice
Restua, Robert
Verendia, Andrea