RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAFFEINE INTAKE AND

AGGRESSION

Research Method: Quantitative Practicum

PCCU-02-BAP-RMQP2082

Himalay Parmar (22120051)

Chahat Bansal (22120037)

Navya Poply (22120103)

Arshiya Khurana (22120016)

Ritesh Tolambiya
ABSTRACT

We looked at the possible relationship between caffeine intake and levels of aggressiveness in
our study. A popular stimulant, caffeine is well-known for its benefits on alertness and
cognitive function, but it has also drawn a lot of attention because of its link to violent
behaviour.

We studied 30 individuals, mostly university students, who were between the ages of 18 and
25, in order to investigate this relationship. A convenient sampling technique was employed
to gather data effectively. Participants answered the Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ) and the
Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire using Google Forms.

The Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire gave us insight into the subjects' patterns of
caffeine consumption, while the violence Scale measured several aspects of violence. After
that, we used Pearson's correlation analysis to find any connections between caffeine use and
levels of aggressiveness.

With a p-value of 0.129, our results showed no discernible relationship between caffeine
intake and levels of aggressiveness. This implies that an increase in hostility may not always
be the direct result of coffee. We must, however, accept the limitations of the study, which
include unexplained factors, a small sample size restricted to a certain age range, and possible
recall bias in self-reported data.

These results might be strengthened by additional study that looks at other demographic
groups and makes use of more sophisticated research techniques. Our non-significant results
are useful in influencing public opinion and policy choices, as well as providing instructive
instances for comprehending statistics and research.
INTRODUCTION

Numerous people's daily lives are heavily influenced by caffeine, a stimulant chemical that is
commonly used. Caffeine is a substance that is ubiquitous in contemporary life, whether it be
in the cozy warmth of a morning cup of coffee or the energizing buzz of an energy drink. As
a result of its well-documented effects on alertness, focus, and general cognitive performance,
it has become a go-to partner in the pursuit of productivity and wakefulness. Besides, Did
you know - High caffeine intake can lead to depletion of calcium and magnesium in your
body?
But in addition to these more overt effects, research on caffeine's possible effects on human
behavior has also been conducted. Of particular interest is the intriguing topic of whether
caffeine use is associated with increased levels of aggression.
The link between caffeine use and aggression is a subject that has attracted attention because
of the possible effects it may have on people's mental and physical health. While caffeine's
energizing benefits are welcomed and relied upon, there is rising interest in how it may
influence undesirable habits. Given the prevalence of caffeine in daily life, it is crucial to
look into how it might affect a person's level of aggression and, consequently, their emotional
and psychological health.
Our study addresses the need for a more thorough knowledge of this connection, which has
the potential to have an impact on social ramifications beyond just one's own well-being. We
anticipate that the results of this study will further knowledge of the effects of caffeine
consumption, empowering people to make wise decisions about their consumption and,
ultimately, fostering greater mental health and a higher standard of living.
We conducted a study with a sample size of 30 participants, aged between 18 and 25, who
were chosen using convenience sampling techniques in order to accomplish this purpose. We
explore a cohort that is particularly prone to routinely take caffeine and may be more
vulnerable to its behavioral effects by concentrating on this age group.
According to our hypothesis, there is no connection between caffeine use and levels of
violence.
We will methodically examine and analyze any potential links between caffeine and
aggression as we go into the core of this research. Our ultimate goal is to clarify this complex
link and offer insightful information that might affect people's decisions and, as a result, their
mental health.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and other energy items all include caffeine, a psychoactive drug that
is commonly used for its stimulant qualities that raise alertness and excitement. Studies have
investigated its possible association with aggressiveness, exposing a complex and
situation-specific link.

Research by James and Gregg (2004) found that coffee intake was connected with higher
arousal, but they also noticed that in certain people, this heightened arousal might show signs
of aggressiveness or irritation. Sweeney and Johnson (2016) studied the relationship between
teenage aggressiveness and caffeine use. Their results showed a strong association, pointing
to a possible connection between caffeine use and aggressive behaviour in this group of
people.

Using a mouse model, Haller et al. (2013) and colleagues investigated the impact of coffee on
aggressive behaviour. According to their research, caffeine may, in some circumstances, lead
to aggression. Nevertheless, because aggressiveness is complicated and impacted by a wide
range of psychological, social, and environmental variables, it is still difficult to translate
these results to human behaviour.

Participants in a study on aggressive behaviour and soft drink use in Boston public high
schools were questioned. The findings showed a strong correlation between consuming soft
drinks on a regular basis and a higher risk of acting aggressively (Solnick and Hemenway,
2011). The relationship between energy drink intake, exhaustion, aggressive behaviour, and
mental health problems was investigated in a study involving military personnel. According
to Toblin et al. (2018), the results indicated a strong relationship between these variables and
the intake of high-energy drinks.

A study conducted in 2013 by Kristjánsson et al. investigated the connection between the
self-reported aggressive behaviours and conduct disorders among 10th grade students and
teenage caffeine usage. It was shown that there is a stronger association between the use of
caffeine and aggressive behaviours, especially in girls as opposed to boys.

In Icelandic tenth graders, the relationship between self-reported dietary caffeine, alcohol use,
anger and aggressive behaviour was studied. The findings suggested that when examining
teenage aggressiveness and rage, caffeine intake should be taken into account (James et al.,
2014).

Studies have been done on the connection between aggressiveness, autonomic nervous
system (ANS) activity, and caffeine. The purpose of this pilot study was to clarify the
relationship between reactive and proactive aggressiveness and resting ANS responsiveness
(APA PsycNet, 2023).

The complex interplay between caffeine consumption and aggression is influenced by various
factors, including genetic predisposition, baseline arousal levels, and contextual variables.
While some studies have explored the link between caffeine consumption and aggressive
behaviour, ethical constraints and research challenges have limited investigations in this area.
Nevertheless, the nuanced relationship between caffeine and aggression warrants continued
research to deepen our understanding of this complex association. These studies collectively
indicate the multifaceted nature of the relationship between caffeine consumption and
aggression, with findings suggesting that caffeine can lead to heightened arousal and, in some
cases, manifest as irritability or aggression. However, the exact nature of this relationship is
complex and context-specific.

Numerous factors, such as genetic predisposition, baseline arousal levels, and contextual
variables, impact the intricate relationship between caffeine consumption and aggression.
Although few studies have looked at the connection between caffeine use and violent
behaviour, these studies have been hampered by ethical issues and difficulties in conducting
the study. However, further study is necessary to fully comprehend the complicated
interaction between coffee and aggression due to its subtle nature. When taken as a whole,
these studies show how complex the link is between caffeine use and aggressiveness, with
results pointing to the possibility that caffeine might increase arousal and occasionally show
up as irritation or aggression. However certain aspects of this interaction are nuanced and
dependent on the situation.
HYPOTHESIS AND RESEARCH QUESTION:-

RESEARCH QUESTION -

Is caffeine intake correlated to aggression ? This seeks to investigate whether an individual’s

daily caffeine intake ( in mg) correlated to aggression levels .

HYPOTHESIS-

NULL HYPOTHESIS - there is no significant relation between caffeine intake and aggression
of an individual .

ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS - There is a significant relation between caffeine intake and

aggression of an individual.

METHODOLOGY:-

Research design- Our research will focus on the relationship between caffeine consumption
and aggression levels. The research will be conducted on op Jindal global university students.
We chose convenience sampling because this method of sampling entails selecting subjects
that are easily accessible for the researcher to reach out to and connect with to collect data.

Participants- A convenience sample of 30 participants, ages from 18-25, was included in the
study. Based on their availability and desire to take part in the study, participants were
selected and Inclusion criteria for the study was students from JGU.

Material- Participant’s responses were gathered using Google Forms, an online survey tool.
Data organization and gathering were made easier with Google Forms.

1. The 2017 Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ): The individual levels of aggression was
assessed using this standardized questionnaire. Only the first two aggression factors, such
as verbal and physical aggression were included in our questionnaire due to their
applicability.

2. Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire by John Preston, 2013: a survey created to

evaluate participants' patterns of coffee intake. Participants were questioned regarding the
 average amount of caffeine they drank as well as their preferred sources (coffee, tea, and
soft drinks). To measure their caffeine intake, the research team then turned this data into
milligrams of caffeine. A software named PSPP has been used for the calculation of
results and findings.

Procedure-

Before beginning the study, each participant was given thorough information on the
objectives of the research, confidentiality assurances, and their rights as research subjects.
Every participant's involvement in the study required written consent.

The Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ, 2017)- Participants were requested to complete it

honestly, and it was presented to them during the Aggression Assessment phase. The AGQ is
a series of questions designed to ascertain each participant's level and propensity for
aggression. Participants were made aware that their answers should be based on their unique
experiences and feelings. The assessment's authors mentioned that the AGQ was scored by
standardized guidelines.

Caffeine consumption assessment- During the Caffeine intake Assessment, participants were
asked to indicate their patterns of caffeine consumption. This meant that participants had to
indicate which caffeine-containing beverages like tea, coffee, or soft drinks were preferred
and how much of each they often drank. The amount of caffeine that each participant drank
throughout each day was then calculated by the study group using this data. For the
computation, the given amount was converted into milligrams of caffeine.
RESULTS:-

Graph 1: The above graph illustrates the number of males and females in this study

Graph 2: The graph above illustrates the relative numbers of people with different ages
within the age range of 18-25.

Pearson correlation is used to investigate whether caffeine intake levels of an individual have
any relation with aggression levels of an individual. The statistic that calculates the
straight-line connection (correlation) among two independent variables is called Pearson's
correlation, sometimes referred to as Pearson's correlation coefficient or Pearson's r. It
provides a linear measure of the degree of association between two variables. The range of
the values of the Pearson correlation coefficient is -1 to 1.

Table 1: The above table illustrates that results are not significant

As seen from table 1 the value of p is 0.129 . Therefore, we fail to reject the null hypothesis
because results are not significant as the significant value(0.129) is greater than the alpha
value which is 0.05. So it can be said that there is no significant relationship between caffeine
intake and aggression of an individual.

DISCUSSIONS:-

The objective of this research sought to determine if an individual's level of aggressiveness

and their everyday consumption of caffeine, expressed in milligrams (mg), were correlated.
We developed a pair of hypotheses to answer this question: an alternative hypothesis (H1)
that suggests there is an established connection between caffeine consumption and
aggressiveness, and a null hypothesis (H0) that suggests there is no significant correlation.

The method of statistical analysis, known as Pearson's correlation coefficient, or Pearson's r,

was employed in our investigation to measure the linear connection among two variables that
are continuous. Pearson's r values are an expression of the linear association's strength and
direction, and they fall within -1 and 1.

Considering a p-value of 0.129, the data shown in Table 1 do not appear to be statistically
significant. The alpha level, which is often fixed at 0.05, is contrasted to the p-value in the
testing of hypotheses. We are unable to reject the null hypothesis in this instance since the
p-value (0.129) is greater than the alpha threshold. As a result, our study indicates that there
is no meaningful correlation in the data we collected among the amount of caffeine consumed
and the degree of aggressiveness.

When evaluating this data, a number of things need to be taken into account. First of all, it's
critical to understand that a connection does not always indicate a cause. Despite the lack of a
substantial connection, this does not prove that caffeine consumption has no effect on
aggressiveness. Further investigation into the correlation among caffeine intake and
aggressiveness levels may require more sophisticated analysis or controlled studies due to the
possibility of other neglected or unpredictable factors influencing the correlation.

When evaluating this data, a number of things need to be taken into account. First of all, it's
critical to understand that a connection does not always indicate a cause. Despite the lack of a
substantial connection, this does not prove that caffeine consumption has no effect on
aggressiveness. Further investigation into the correlation among caffeine intake and
aggressiveness levels may require more sophisticated analysis or controlled studies due to the
possibility of other neglected or unpredictable factors influencing the correlation.

Furthermore, the fact that our sample size was restricted to a particular geographical region or
demographic category may have had an impact on how broadly applicable our results may
be. There may be variations in the association of caffeine consumption and aggressiveness
among different age groups or communities, thus it would be beneficial to carry out
comparable research with a wider range of participants. Furthermore, memory bias and
self-reported information may have an impact on the validity of the data. Monitoring
mistakes may occur when respondents don't always describe their levels of aggressiveness or
caffeine use precisely.

Even if our analysis does not show a strong link between caffeine use and aggressiveness in
our sample, it is important to take into account the limitations of the study and the possibility
for more research. More precise collection of data techniques, a larger and more varied
respondent collection, and a wider variety of variables to take into account when evaluating
the intricate link between caffeine and aggressiveness may all be advantageous for future
study.
Future Implications:-

1. Further Research of this Relationship- It is not always the case that a relationship
doesn't exist when a study finds no significant relationship. To delve deeper into the
link, researchers can conduct additional research using various approaches or on
distinct populations. They could look into if the link differs according to one's gender,
age, or other demographic characteristics, for instance.
2. Making reports and Publishing houses- It's critical to appropriately and openly
communicate non-significant data. This adds to the existing knowledge of the subject
and inhibits other scholars from pursuing meaningless paths of research. Additionally,
open reporting protects the validity of scientific findings.
3. Provides awareness to the public- Non-significant findings from studies of the
public's interest can influence the public's views and policy choices. The
non-significant results might reduce public fears that caffeine intake was associated
with increased aggression.
4. Value added to the education- In research and statistics courses, results that are not
significant can be utilised as educational examples. The complicated nature of
practical research and the significance of statistical analysis can be better understood
by students with their support.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of our study was to look at any possible connections between a person's degree
of aggression and how much coffee they consume. A statistical method that is frequently
utilised to evaluate the direction and strength of a linear relationship between two continuous
variables, Pearson's correlation coefficient, was utilised to look into this. The quantity of
caffeine consumed and the degree of aggression exhibited by the individuals were key factors
in our study.

We developed two hypotheses to assess this relationship: a null hypothesis (H0) that suggests
there is no link at all and an alternate hypothesis (H1) that suggests there is a strong
correlation between caffeine use and aggression. After doing our study, the findings showed
that the p-value was 0.129. The p-value in a hypothesis test indicates the likelihood that the
observed data occurred by chance. The p-value helps in determining if the data is statistically
significant when compared to a pre-established significance level (alpha), usually set at 0.05.

In our instance, the p-value of 0.129 was higher than the 0.05 alpha criterion. This shows that
the data did not demonstrate statistical significance, which means that the null hypothesis
could not be successfully rejected. This indicates that there was no significant relationship
between the amount of caffeine consumed by a person and their degree of aggression in our
sample.

It's crucial to highlight that our study's lack of significant correlation does not conclusively
show that caffeine use has no impact on aggression. The observed connection may be
influenced by a variety of factors, such as uncontrollable variables or the potential for a more
complicated relationship. A more thorough knowledge of the connection between caffeine
consumption and aggression may be obtained by additional study utilising more advanced
analytic methods and controlled investigations.

In conclusion, even though our study did not find a strong link between caffeine use and
aggressive behaviour in our sample, it does pave the way for more investigation. Further
research on this link is necessary due to its complexity, maybe using bigger and more diverse
samples, more exacting data gathering techniques, and a study of other relevant variables.
References

Solnick, S. J., & Hemenway, D. (2011). The ‘Twinkie Defense’: the relationship between
carbonated non-diet soft drinks and violence perpetration among Boston high school students.
Injury Prevention, 18(4)I, 259–263.
https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2011-040117

James, J. E., Kristjánsson, Á. L., & Sigfúsdóttir, I. D. (2014). A Gender-Specific analysis of

adolescent dietary caffeine, alcohol consumption, anger, and violent behaviour. Substance
Use & Misuse, 50(2), 257–267.

https://doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2014.977394

Turnbull, D., Rodricks, J. V., & Mariano, G. F. (2016). Neurobehavioral hazard identification
and characterization for caffeine. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 74, 81– 92.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.12.002

Toblin, R. L., Adrian, A. L., Hoge, C. W., & Adler, A. B. (2018). Energy drink use in U.S.
service members after deployment: associations with mental health problems, aggression, and
fatigue. Military Medicine, 183(11–12), e364–e370.

https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usy205

APA PsycNet. (n.d.-b).

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2024-07886-001

Kristjánsson, Á. L., Sigfúsdóttir, I. D., Frost, S. S., & James, J. E. (2013). Adolescent
Caffeine Consumption and Self-Reported Violence and Conduct Disorder. Journal of Youth
and Adolescence, 42(7), 1053–1062.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9917-5

James, J. E., & Gregg, M. E. (2004). Effects of dietary caffeine on mood when rested and
sleep restricted. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 19(5), 333-341.
Sweeney, M. M., & Johnson, J. (2016). Caffeine, sleep, and aggression in a sample of healthy
adolescents. Journal of Health Psychology, 21(7), 1228-1235.

Haller, J., Hohmann, N., & S. (2013). Interactions between environmental aversiveness and
the anxiogenic effects of caffeine in rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 237, 184-187.

APPENDIX :-

● Link of the Google forms-

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvigRTV9-jMAVBJVCE8c1m-bpK1rI1
oSfHNZrpPsrSvZQb7A/viewform?usp=sf_link
● The Aggression Questionnaire link-
https://frankumstein.com/PDF/Psychology/The%20Aggression%20Questionnaire.pdf
● Caffeine Consumption Assessment-
https://www.millersville.edu/healthservices/files/caffeine-questionair
● Variable view-

● Data view-
Individual reflection:-

Chahat - Studying caffeine intake and their influence on aggression was valuable.
Understanding this enlightened me. Analysing data and calculating results was challenging
but deepened my understanding. The correlation between caffeine intake and aggression
level was especially intriguing. group mates were incredibly collaborative and cooperative,
which played a crucial role in successfully implementing these changes and ensuring the
project's completion. Challenges we faced included last-minute decisions to try using various
appropriate statistical analysis methods and incorporate additional elements into the report.
These challenges demanded flexibility and quick problem-solving, and our group
successfully navigated these hurdles.

Arshiya- The study encountered difficulties because of its small sample of 18–25-year-old
university students, possible self-reported data inconsistencies, and its exclusive emphasis on
coffee use and aggressiveness at the expense of other significant variables. Even though there
was no significant association, the findings made clear how important it is to interpret
non-significant results with caution and how much more thorough, varied, and rigorous study
is required to fully understand the complicated relationship between coffee use and
aggressiveness. The importance of transparent reporting and the usefulness of bigger, more
representative samples in scientific research were both emphasised by this study. It also
underlined the lessons discovered about the complexity of human behaviour, the difficulties
in obtaining accurate self-reported data, and the need for thorough and varied study to fully
comprehend the connection between caffeine and aggressiveness.

Navya- It was a very intriguing research topic and I was very keen to get a deeper insight into
this relationship. Firstly we thought we came up with a unique research question which
strengthened my understanding of the complexities of the field of research and statistical
analysis. The challenge we faced was to get responses to reach a sample size of 30 as it was
only being sent to JGU students and that’s why the reason behind keeping a small sample size
was to not get an adequate amount of responses to get our results. Overall this study gave me
the perspective to see the research field largely and it allows me to explore and delve deeper
into these kinds of studies in future with the better understanding that I have gained from this
experience of doing research with very helpful teammates.
Himalay- One of the challenges that stood out to me in our study was how to create a
questionnaire that would be easy for participants. For instance, if we overwhelmed them with
complex questions, such as asking them to calculate the amount of caffeine they consume
from various beverages, it might discourage their participation. This would have required
them to calculate the quantity of the beverage they consume, the milligrams (mg) of caffeine
in it, and add it all up before answering the questionnaire. To make it as simple and engaging
as possible for our participants, we decided to handle the calculations ourselves and keep the
complex questions behind the scenes.

Additionally, working with PSPP to calculate the results and complete this assignment helped
reinforce many concepts we had previously studied. Despite my initial expectations of
finding a significant correlation between aggression and caffeine intake, I was surprised to
discover only a mild to moderate correlation. This outcome is likely attributable to the sample
size and the scope of our study.

Contribution of Work:-

Navya Poply- Methodology and future implications under discussion

Himalay Parmar- Abstract and Introduction and creation of google form

Chahat Bansal- Results, Discussion and research question , hypothesis and response
collection

Arshiya Khurana- Review of literature and conclusion