Chinese researchers find that drinking bubble tea, and milk tea in general, can lead to addiction and mental health disorders, such as depression.
- Bubble tea is a drink made from tea, milk and tapioca pearls, very popular among young people.
- According to a study, some consumers show signs of addiction.
- This addiction can be associated with mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
Tea, milk, tapioca pearls and some flavorings for flavor: bubble tea is a very fashionable drink. But beware of addiction! Bubble tea consumers may exhibit signs of addiction, according to researchers from Tsinghua University and the Central University of Finance and Economics of China. They demonstrate this in a study published in Journal of Affective Disorders.
Bubble tea and milk tea: symptoms of dependence among regular consumers
“Milk tea has seen growing popularity in China, particularly among young people., recall the authors in the preamble to their study. Firstly, they sought to understand whether its consumption could lead to dependence phenomena, then what the consequences were on the mental health of young people. To achieve this, Chinese scientists surveyed 5,281 students. They discovered that the symptoms of milk tea addiction were real. “The results indicate that milk tea consumption could lead to symptoms of addiction, including frequency of consumption, dependence, craving, intention to quit, inability to quit, and feelings of guilt.they note.
In detail, 2.6% of young people drank 4 to 6 cups of milk tea or bubble tea each week and 20.6% drank 2 to 3 cups per week. Scientists have found that this addiction among young people is associated with mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. In certain cases, their consumption can lead to phenomena of social isolation or a deterioration of mood.
Depression: how to explain the addiction to bubble tea and milk teas?
This study did not aim to understand the causes of addiction to bubble teas and other milk teas, but Chinese scientists nevertheless raise a hypothesis. According to them, these drinks could be a way for young people to regulate their emotions. They point out that they are rich in sugar, but also in caffeine, which can also be harmful to the health of young people.
Bubble tea and mental health: a call for more prevention
“These drinks could be addictive and harmful in the same way as social media or drugs.”, the authors argue. They recommend that measures be put in place to prevent physical and mental problems that could be linked to bubble tea and milk tea, from obesity and tooth decay to addiction and depression. “The current findings can help policymakers develop regulations such as restricting advertising, psychoeducation, establishing food hygiene standards for this thriving, youth-dominated industry, while protecting their mental health.”, conclude the researchers. They believe that future research needs to be carried out with larger samples of participants and a longer study duration.