Cold baths 'ease workers' stress'
January 31, 2005
Having a cold bath in the morning could cut stress levels among workers, research has found.
The study by the University of Hull found the regime of cold showers taken by athletes could be transferred to the world of work.
Dr Peter Clough said stressed workers often became hot and sweaty but their condition eased if they had a cold bath in the morning.
He said the research showed cold water increased mental toughness.
Dr Clough took a group of university students up a mountain in Derbyshire and made them put their hands in a bucket of cold water while answering questions.
The outward bound-style training increased mental toughness and the ability to face stressful situations, the research found.
Dr Clough is now developing mental toughness courses which use the research following concerns over the level of stress among British workers.
He said: "You can toughen people up by sending them up a mountain.
"The preferred option is to make a job as less stressful as possible but another way is to toughen people up."
Source: BBC News Online, 13/01/2005