The surge of milk teas, including bubble tea and the beloved Indian spiced tea, has become a dominant trend in India and other parts of Asia in recent years.
However, recent research has brought to light a troubling association between milk tea consumption and mental health concerns.
Conducted by scholars from Tsinghua University and the Central University of Finance and Economics in China, the study focused on the experiences of 5,281 college students in Beijing.
This study illuminated a worrisome link between milk tea consumption and feelings of loneliness and depression.
The researchers suggested that young individuals in China and elsewhere may be turning to milk tea as a way to cope with their emotions and regulate their mental well-being. In this context, these beverages could potentially lead to addictive behaviors and have detrimental effects on mental health.
The findings of the study indicate that milk tea consumption can exhibit addictive characteristics, including frequency of consumption, dependency, intention to quit, inability to quit, and associated guilt.
Consequently, the research team advocates for measures to be put in place to address both the physical and mental health risks linked to milk tea, ranging from concerns like obesity and dental decay to addiction and depression.
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