A joint study between researchers at Bielefeld University and the University of Warwick has confirmed people who regularly consume caffeine are usually in a better mood after a cup of coffee, with the effect much more pronounced in the morning.
According to the study published in Scientific Reports, participants who regularly drink caffeine said they felt “significantly happier and more enthusiastic” on the mornings they had consumed coffee compared to others days when they had not.
The study also observed links to negative moods such as sadness, but these were found to be less pronounced. After drinking coffee, participants reported feeling slightly less sad or upset than on comparable days without coffee.
“Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, which can increase dopamine activity in key brain regions – an effect that studies have linked to improved mood and greater alertness,” says Professor Anu Realo of the University of Warwick.
In total, 236 young adults in Germany were asked to complete short questionnaires on their smartphones seven times a day over a period of up to four weeks. They were asked questions about their mood and whether they had consumed a caffeinated drink in the preceding 90 minutes.
“Around 80 per cent of adults worldwide consume caffeinated beverages, and the use of such stimulating substances dates far back in human history,” says Senior Author Professor Sakari Lemola of Bielefeld University.
“Even wild animals consume caffeine; bees and bumblebees prefer nectar from plants that contain caffeine.”
