You scroll through Netflix and – suddenly – you strike gold. It’s the perfect show, every episode ending in cliffhangers that have you glued to the screen from the first episode to the grand finale. We’ve all been there; binge-watching a series or getting lost in a new book until you flip the final page. Afterwards, you might feel guilty, but new science suggests these lengthy viewings could do wonders for your stress levels.
A Story That Sticks
A new study in Acta Psychologica finds that people who binge-watch TV shows or spend long stretches reading are more likely to experience what researchers call “retrospective imaginative involvement” (RII) – continuing to think about and mentally explore a story well after it’s over.
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The research suggests that drawing on vivid story elements from memory may help individuals cope with everyday stress and even support well-being. Instead of dismissing marathon viewing or reading as mindless, the study points out that consuming stories in long sessions can build richer mental models, i.e., narratives people can revisit later for comfort or perspective.
In other words, this study puts to bed the notion that couch time in front of the TV is “wasted”. But this does come with a caveat. In order for this activity to be effective, you need to be mentally engaged with the content flashing in front of your eyes.
So, if you’re prone to scrolling your phone while watching shows at night, you’ll likely not enjoy the positive impact these shows can have on your stress levels.
Another New Way To Beat Stress
Your favourite TV show isn’t the only way you can leverage your screen time for big mental gains. One study published in International Journal of Psychophysiology found that sitting down to play a video game could also help you chip away at your angst.
READ MORE: Feeling Stressed Out? Playing “The Legend of Zelda” Could Be the Cure
As part of an experiment for the study, researchers tasked participants with playing the game A Plague Tale: Requiem (amazing experience!) after undergoing a stress-inducing test wherein they were asked to keep one of their hands in cold water for 3 minutes without knowing when they would be allowed to thaw out.
Participants were divided into two groups: the first group played through violent sections of the game while the other took a tour of the more peaceful segments of the same title. During the test and subsequent gaming session, researchers measured the participants’ heart rates, self-reported feelings of tension and cortisol levels.
The result? Regardless of whether they were playing through a violent or non-violent section of the game, all of the participants’ stress indicators decreased.
