Effects of caffeine-containing drinks and foods on everyday stress tolerance

Abstract

Effects of safe consumption of caffeine-containing drinks (tea, coffee, chocolate, etc.) and foods (caffeine content didn’t exceed maximum single or daily dose) on everyday stress which was considered as stress with low level of subjective significance and short-term duration were studied. The different types of caffeine consumption were identified. No significant differences between males and females were found. 7 types of caffeine consumption were described. No significant correlations between caffeine consumption type and cortisol reactivity type were found. In the first experiment (public speaking) a positive reaction to stress was observed in 53.1% females and 61.1% males while in the second experiment (face-to-face interview) – in 67.2% females and 55.6% males. This means that subjective stress perception and its physiological correlates may be significantly different. It is concluded that caffeine consumption that doesn’t exceed the norms may lead to physiological activation or not which is supposed to be due rather to differences in personality traits than to the character of everyday stress.