An example of the Quick Mood Scale.
As a
college student, individual task performance and mood stability are key aspects
to day-to-day survival, observing my peers throughout the day, many depend on a
quick burst of energy from the caffeine based, sugar-filled selection of
beverages that can be found for sale across campus to aid in studying and basic
endurance/motivation. However, too much of these unhealthy substitutes can lead
to an upset in blood pressure, insomnia, nervousness, muscle tremors, and even
mood swings from withdrawal. In my search for healthier alternatives to incorporate
across campus, I came across a study performed by Western Oregon University
senior Reina Morgan, under the supervision of several professors of doctoral
status, on the effects of peppermint and orange aromas on mood and task
performance as a quick and healthy solution to better studying and motivation.
The
study hypothesized that orange and peppermint aromas would have a greatest effect
on mood and performance based off previous studies. Those who agreed to
participate in this study were separated into three groups in which each group
was exposed to either peppermint, orange, or no scent at all. Both pre and post
moods were measured using the standard Quick
Mood Scale, used commonly by physicians and similar professions, and each
participant was asked to answer GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, questions
in order to measure the effects of task performance.
Mood is known for affecting memory and
influencing the perception of individual environment, those who are in a good
mood are more likely to response to problems and tasks with more creative
solutions than those who feel miserable, exhausted, and sad. One-way in which this
study focuses on improving and altering is through exposure to aromas,
essential oils stimulate the olfactory system, or sense of smell, which send
signals to the limbic system, the center of the brain that deals with emotions,
arousal, but most importantly memory, chemicals are released that allow
participants to feel relaxed and calm. Orange essential oil is best known and
used to improve mood and relieve stress, peppermint is known for its cooling
and relaxing effects, which causes it to become a commonly used as a treatment
for stress, restlessness, and anxiety. Making both the ideal substitute instead
of every mid-day caffeine, sugar boost for over-worked college students
The
37 participants of this study were students at Western Oregon University,
without any allergies or sensitivities to scent. The aromas were administered
through an electric diffuser that was hidden under the a table in the test
room, and was not visible. Each student was given a packet containing the same
11 Graduate Record Examination practice questions, the was generated straight
from the Educational Testing Service, that evenly covered each basic field of
the test while exposed to the conditions in which their group was assigned in
order to test task performance. Before entering the room, each student was to
rate their mood, and after they were to repeat this process in order to
properly record the effects of the aromas on each individual.
After several repeated measures, even though
small effects could be concluded to better perform and mood, a significant
difference was not found between the controlled group and the orange, nor peppermint
conditions. However, those who had undergone this experiment had filled out
post-experimental questionnaires mentioning that the scents of vanilla and lavender
would have more of an effect on students. The data, however, showed that while both
scents did improve mood and performance, the changes were small and not
significant when compared to the controlled group. When asked about the other
scents the participants believed might improve their mood, other than orange
and peppermint, lavender and vanilla were the top picks, with mint bring the third
choice.
In response to this, I launched my
own experiment to test this theory to create a more productive, healthier
learning environment within college campuses. I hypothesized, if selected
students of Morrisville State College were exposed to the scents of vanilla and
lavender, then they would have better mood ratings and overall performance in
the classroom. With 12 participants, evenly female and male, I divided them up in a similar fashion of the
Western Oregon University experiment, four students were to sit within a room
exposed to the lavender, four students were exposed to the scent of vanilla,
and four composed of the control group. The aromas were administered through an
electric diffuser, similar to those in the original experiment, placed out of
site. Each student was given a packet of the same 11 undergraduate leveled
questions to answer, while exposed to their assigned conditions. After running
the experiment four separate time, it was concluded that the most effective aroma
was lavender due to the well-known calming effects of this scent. Those in this
group began to rate their moods at least 1.5 to 2 times higher and their tests
began to come back with slightly higher scores than the controlled group as
each student report not feeling so rushed and more relaxed from the lavender
aroma of the room. Those in the vanilla group showed no significant differences
from the controlled group in task performance and reported lower on the mood scale because of
headaches due to the strength of this aroma. Overall, lavender showed more significant results over orange, peppermint, and vanilla, in greater task performance and overall individual mood.
References
Morgan,
Reina. “The Effects of Peppermint and Orange Aromas on Mood and Task Performance:
A Research Study and Process
Narration.” Western Oregon University Digital Commons@WOU, 1 May 2015,
digitalcommons.wou.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer
Herz, R.
S. (2011). The emotional, cognitive, and biological basics of olfaction:
implications and considerations
for scent marketing. In Sensory Marketing (pp. 117-138). Routledge.
Photo: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Faezeh_Ghaderi/publication/259499877/figure/fig1/AS:202508946415621@1425293303128/Visual-analogue-scale-VAS-for-assessment-of-childrens-pain-perception.png
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