An Experimental Comparison of the Effects of Coffee, Herbal Tea, and Black Tea on Stress, Anxiety, and Panic Symptoms among Psychological Clinic Clients
Keywords:
Huh, herbal tea, tea, stress, anxiety, panicAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of coffee, lavender herbal tea, and black tea consumption on changes in stress, anxiety, and panic symptoms among clients with anxiety disorders attending psychological clinics in Tehran.
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest–follow-up design with one control group and three intervention groups. The statistical population consisted of individuals with anxiety-related disorders who attended psychological clinics in Tehran in 2023. An initial sample of 56 participants was selected through purposive sampling and assigned to four groups: coffee consumers, black tea consumers, lavender herbal tea consumers, and a control group. Data were collected using the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Liebowitz Panic Symptom Questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons in SPSS version 27.
Findings: The results demonstrated significant between-group differences in perceived stress during the posttest and follow-up phases. Participants consuming coffee reported significantly higher stress levels than those in the black tea, herbal tea, and control groups (P<0.001). Lavender herbal tea consumption significantly reduced stress compared with the control group during both assessment periods (P<0.01). Regarding anxiety, a significant difference was observed between the coffee and herbal tea groups at posttest (P=0.049), with higher anxiety scores among coffee consumers. Follow-up analyses indicated sustained reductions in anxiety among participants consuming lavender tea. Concerning panic symptoms, significant differences emerged at follow-up, where the herbal tea group exhibited significantly lower panic symptom scores compared with the black tea and control groups (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that coffee consumption may contribute to increased stress and anxiety, whereas lavender herbal tea appears to reduce stress, anxiety, and panic symptoms. Black tea did not produce statistically significant effects on the studied outcomes. These findings support the potential role of lavender herbal tea as a safe and complementary approach for managing psychological distress and anxiety-related symptoms.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Forough Safari, Shabnam Homauon Rad, Sona Rahimi Kia, Fatemeh Darabpour (Author); Sima Soheil Alvandi
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