Does A Cup Of Tea Reduce Stress?

This week, several daily newspapers in the UK and other countries have articles about a study commissioned by the Direct Line insurance firm that claims to drink tea reduces stress not only because of the beverage itself but also due to the calming ritual of turning on the kettle. Dr. Malcolm Cross and Rita Michaels, psychologists at City University London, conducted the study; although an executive summary is available online, it is not clear whether the findings will be subjected to peer review or published in a journal. According to Cross and Michaels, their goal was to "evaluate and better understand how effective tea might be for generating calm during an episode of anxiety," but they also wanted to look into how the process of preparing tea affected stress.

In their background research, they cited academic studies that claim drinking tea is linked to a good mood and feelings of relaxation, that its chemical properties have been linked to boosting mental alertness and assisting those who are stressed to recover from it, and that it has positive effects on the cardiovascular system.

They carried out two procedures for the study: one to obtain some measures, and the other to obtain some qualitative or descriptive findings. They employed the same 42 volunteers in both instances (21 men and 21 women). The subjects performed a "before and after" experiment first, and then they participated in small focus groups where they discussed tea and their experiences with it.

During the experiment, Cross and Michaels divided the 42 volunteers into two equally sized groups: a tea group and a non-tea group. They then asked them to complete the Spielberger test and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults, two well-used and validated psychological tests (STAIA). They evaluated each person's current level of anxiety (their "state") as well as their overall propensity for anxiety (their "trait").

The "d2 Test of Attention"—a mentally demanding task that had to be finished by a particular time—was next completed by the participants. Finding the letter "d" in a passage of text and then either crossing it out or not based on the marks above and below it are required for the test.

The pressure comes from the limited amount of time you have to finish it as well as the letter "p," which appears to be an upside-down "d" to the eye for a brief moment, which is why it rests on it. This letter is spread throughout the text, sometimes with markings and other times without. The volunteers in the tea group received a cup of tea after the stress test, while the volunteers in the non-tea group only received a glass of water. After that, both teams completed a fresh round of the anxiety survey (just the state measure, not the trait one).

To assess "the emotive meaning and impact of preparing tea for participants," Cross and Michaels asked the volunteers to participate in focus groups and provide their thoughts on various topics.

Also, the researchers generalized questions about what tea meant to them, how it made them feel, and why.

The Researchers Found That-

• Before the mental stress exercise, there was no discernible difference in the levels of anxiety between the two groups. The differences were "substantial and noticeable" subsequently, though-

• Following the task, the non-tea group, who drank only water, displayed a 25% rise in anxiety.

• In contrast, the group who drank tea experienced a 4% reduction in anxiety

• The remarks shared during the focus groups "indicated that the ritual of brewing and drinking tea does make an essential contribution to the overall effect of reducing stress," according to the study

• Participants in the focus group and qualitative assessment reported feeling more at ease after drinking tea, and they tended to attribute this to a sense of "partition," where there is an "end" or "break" from a previous period of tension

• One volunteer claimed that drinking tea gave them a moment to "cool out" and "put a line under" their unpleasant experience.

• Some claimed they drank tea on purpose to relieve tension, such as before a tough job interview or after a difficult journey.

• The act of having tea produced for them, such as after the stressful task, according to some members of the tea group, was associated with sentiments of community and solidarity; they felt "cared for" and "watched after."

• The fact that the anxiety levels in the tea-drinking group decreased below their pre-task levels demonstrated two things, according to the researchers- tea not only helped individuals feel less anxious during the activity itself, but it also made them more relaxed than they were beforehand.

• After they drank their beverages following the stressful job, they claimed to have observed a difference in social behavior between the tea group and the non-tea group. While the tea group talked amongst themselves, the non-tea group drank their water in solitude. It was stated that- “The tea appeared to catalyze conversation, and helped build rapport both between the participant and tea-maker (research assistant) and amongst the wider group.”

Amongst Their Concluding Remarks, Cross and Michaels Wrote

“The present study shows that during periods of stress tea’s reputation for inducing calm extends beyond the effects of its physical properties on our bodies and brains"

Written by Venkata Kishore Sreemalle