Scientists have learned about the effectiveness of short inspirational videos in reducing stress

According to a study by the American Psychological Association, watching short inspirational videos can be just as effective at reducing stress as meditation. This is reported by the Medical Xpress magazine.

"Although there are many effective ways to deal with stress, people often feel too busy or overwhelmed to apply these strategies. We've found that even a few minutes of watching hopeful content can reduce stress levels. This is a short, simple, and even enjoyable break, and it can have a significant impact in helping people feel more optimistic and cope with what awaits them," said Robin Nabi, lead author, PhD, from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

While health experts recommend meditation, exercise, deep breathing, hobbies, or socializing with others to manage stress, Nabi noted that media content is rarely considered a stress management tool. According to her, many people are told that in a state of stress, on the contrary, media use should be avoided, since people as a society tend to look at it through the prism of extreme negativity.

At the same time, she called the use of the media space one of the most common ways to cope with stress, which can be beneficial and help to relax. To better understand the potential of short videos in the context of stress reduction, Nabi and her colleagues conducted a four-week experiment involving more than 1,000 adults.

First, the participants filled out a questionnaire to assess the initial stress level. The following week, they were randomly divided into five groups. Over the course of five days, each participant received an email instructing them to watch an inspirational video, a comedy segment, follow meditation instructions, or browse their phone. Each lesson lasted about 5 minutes a day. The control group was a team that did not receive any instructions on the use of media.

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After each session, the participants answered questions about their emotional state. In the following weeks, the researchers monitored how their emotions in response to watching media content affected their stress levels. The results showed that participants who watched inspiring videos or engaged in meditation had a significantly increased sense of hope during the week of such "therapy" compared to the control group. This indicator predicted a reduction in stress not only after a few days, but also up to 10 days after the end of the experiment. Although the comedies made people laugh and entertained, these feelings did not affect the stress level.

"Hope is not just inspiring at the moment. It can also motivate people to cope with life's difficulties. When people see how others overcome difficulties, as was the case in our inspiring videos, it can awaken in them the belief that they too are capable of standing up, surviving and succeeding. This sense of opportunity helps to resist stress and can have long—term benefits that go beyond just watching," Nabi said.

The results of the study confirm that strategically selected hopeful media content can become an affordable and practical tool to support stress reduction, especially during periods such as the holiday season. This can be especially useful for people who have difficulty with meditation or other stress management techniques.

According to the PhD, if people consciously decide to include a little more inspiring content in their lives in order to experience hope, they may be able to reduce their stress levels. Nabi stressed that this does not mean that the consumption of such content should replace meditation or other methods. She called it another tool that a person can add to their arsenal to deal with stress.

Nabi also clarified that research has confirmed a growing body of evidence in support of the so-called media perception approach, in which short doses of emotionally uplifting media materials are used to improve mental well-being.

On October 6, Scientific American magazine pointed to Monday's impact on stress for the brain and body. It was noted that this day of the week is the most exhausting. According to the study, people who complain of increased anxiety on Mondays have been experiencing high activity of the stress response system for several months.

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