Study Shows...
Wed, November 19 2008
It also showed that chewing gum increases alertness and improves performance while multi-tasking.
Andrew Scholey, professor of behavioural sciences at Swinburne University, said studies he conducted at Northumbria University show that chewing gum may be “associated with positive, relaxing social behaviours”.
The study examined 40 people, averaging 22 years of age, performing tasks on a defined intensity stressor simulation (DISS), a multi-tasking platform which triggers stress and measures performance.
The participants’ levels of anxiety, alertness and stress were measured before and after completing the DISS while chewing and not chewing sugar free gum.
Gum chewers’ performance scores over non-gum chewers improved by a significant 67 percent during stressful situations.
Scholey said that the findings suggest that chewing gum may actually help us manage life’s daily stresses and keep us from reacting to situations like road rage or panic from looming deadlines.
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