-- Focus on what's under your control, not what's beyond your control. You control your thoughts and performance, not what others do or say. -- Embrace your pre-game butterflies. Your body is signaling you're ready to compete. -- Get in the zone. Staying focused can offer athletes a performance edge and research shows chewing gum can help reduce stress, improve alertness and relieve anxiety.(2),(3),(4) -- Visualize success. Taking two minutes a day to visualize desired performance can help anticipate a game situation and calm nerves.Sports-induced stress doesn't end when the competition is over. Among those surveyed, 62 percent admit they feel stressed when watching their favorite sports teams play, while 71 percent admit they talk back or yell at the TV. "The spirit of competition among athletes and spectators ignites loyalty and passion," said Paul Chibe Wrigley's vice president of North American Gum Marketing. "Athletes and fans everywhere love chewing Doublemint, so the fact that chewing a stick while enjoying sports can reduce stress is a great way to bring together these American pastimes." For more information about the survey and the Benefits of Chewing™, visit www.wrigleygumisgood.com. Additional Survey Results
-- Of adults with children, 52 percent agree watching their child play competitive sports is more stressful than actually competing. -- Overall, most athletes feel stress from themselves (81 percent of women and 73 percent of men); however, men are more likely to feel pressure from teammates (29 percent) and spectators (20 percent). -- Everyday athletes admire a number of professional athletes for their ability to focus and concentrate during the game, most notably: - Tiger Woods (29 percent) - Michael Jordan (25 percent) - Venus Williams (11 percent)About the Survey The national online survey was conducted among 1,000 everyday athlete adults ages 21-34 in September 2008. Everyday athletes were identified as adults who participate in intramural or amateur sports organizations or non-professional races. About the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (
(1) Wrigley Athlete Study. StrategyOne. September 2008 - Survey of 1,000 everyday athletes (adults ages 21-34 involved in intramural or amateur sports organizations, non-professional races, tennis or golf.) Statistic based on those who chew gum. (2) Scholey, Andrew. An investigation into the effects of gum chewing on mood and cortisol levels during psychological stress. 10th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine. Tokyo, Japan. August 2008. (3) Sasaki A. "Influence of mastication on the amount of hemoglobin in human brain tissue." Journal of Stomatological Society. 2001; 68(1): 72-81. (4) Yue Z, Huang L, Zhou X. "Regional brain activities during gum chewing." Psychological Science 2006; 29:1153-1156.
Contact Information: For more information, contact: Amy E. Lind Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (312) 645-3423 amy.lind@wrigley.com Mandy Marcum Edelman on behalf of Wrigley (312) 297-7551 amanda.marcum@edelman.com