Scientists from the United States have found that viewing memes during the coronavirus pandemic helps people get rid of stress. A related study was published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media.
A team of scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara and Pennsylvania State University conducted an online survey in early 2020. The participants were 748 people aged 18 to 88 years.
First, the researchers assessed how often the respondents experienced stress before the survey. They were then assigned to view three memes or three text messages. The experts selected memes from popular sites and used only funny or cute pictures with text.
After viewing, the participants rated how funny the pictures were and also reported their stress and anxiety levels. At the end, they were asked if they had thought about the problems associated with the coronavirus.
The study found that people who watched the meta experienced more positive emotions not related to the pandemic. If the meme was about the coronavirus, then even so, the study participant stated that he felt more confident. Those who looked at the cute pictures were the least inclined to think about the coronavirus and the pandemic.
To reduce your stress levels, look at stills from movies that have become memes.
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