Chewing gum modifies state anxiety and alertness under conditions of social stress

Sketchley-Kaye, Kathryn, Jenks, Rebecca, Miles, Christopher and Johnson, Andrew J. 2011. Chewing gum modifies state anxiety and alertness under conditions of social stress. Nutritional neuroscience 14 (6) , pp. 237-242. 10.1179/1476830511Y.0000000017

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Abstract

Objectives The finding that chewing gum can moderate state anxiety under conditions of acute stress has proved difficult to replicate. The present study examines the extent to which chewing gum can moderate state anxiety under conditions of acute social stress. Method In a between-participants design, 36 participants completed a task comprising a mock job interview (a variation on the Trier Social Stress Task, which included a mental arithmetic component) while either chewing gum or without chewing gum. Self-rated measures of mood and anxiety were taken at baseline, after a 10-minute presentation preparation stage, after the 10-minute presentation, and following a 5-minute recovery stage. Results Post-presentation measures reflected increased state anxiety and decreased self-rated calmness and contentedness. Chewing gum attenuated the rise in state anxiety while increasing self-rated alertness. Chewing gum did not affect contentedness or calmness. Conclusions The findings indicate that chewing gum can act to reduce anxiety under conditions of acute social stress: a finding consistent with Scholey et al. Furthermore, the data add to the growing body of literature demonstrating that chewing gum can increase alertness.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology T Technology > TX Home economics
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Stress ; Alertness ; Anxiety ; Chewing gum
Publisher:	Informa
ISSN:	1028-415X
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2016 22:54
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/30972

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