Study: Coffee in the morning demonstrably makes you happier

Berlin. According to a study, regular coffee drinkers are usually in a better mood after a cup in the morning than before. Those surveyed feel significantly happier and more enthusiastic than on other days when they don't drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages at the same time. This is the result of a study by researchers from Bielefeld University and the University of Warwick in the UK, published in the journal "Scientific Reports."

According to the study, caffeine also counteracts negative moods such as sadness or anger – but this connection is less strong and does not depend on the time of day.

The researchers surveyed 236 young adults who regularly consume caffeine over a period of up to four weeks. The participants completed a short questionnaire on their mobile phones seven times a day. They indicated their current mood and whether they had consumed a caffeinated beverage in the previous 90 minutes.

The researchers explain the mood-enhancing effect as follows: Caffeine blocks the adenosine receptors in the brain, making you feel more alert and energetic. Receptors are like tiny antennas – and a substance that makes us sleepy often binds to them: adenosine.

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Co-author Professor Anu Realo PhD from the University of Warwick explains: “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 increased alertness.” Dopamine is known as the happiness hormone.

The authors also pointed out an open question and a peculiarity of the study. It remains to be seen whether the morning effects are related to a reduction in withdrawal symptoms that developed during the night. "Even people with only moderate caffeine consumption can experience mild withdrawal symptoms that disappear with the first coffee or tea in the morning," says Anu Realo.

And: The researchers expected that people who are generally very anxious would experience negative mood changes after consuming caffeine—such as increased nervousness. "However, it's possible that people who know they don't respond well to caffeine simply don't drink it," explains the study's lead author, Justin Hachenberger, from the Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science at Bielefeld University. Such individuals were not represented in the study, as only data from caffeine consumers were analyzed.

"Around 80 percent of adults worldwide consume caffeinated beverages, and the consumption of tea and coffee dates back a long way," says Sakari Lemola of Bielefeld University, a co-author of the study. "Caffeine consumption has even been documented in wild animals; for example, bee and bumblebee species prefer nectar from plants containing caffeine." The research team points out that caffeine consumption can lead to addiction.

RND/dpa