Khaberni - There's a prevalent belief that crying helps alleviate stress and achieve emotional relief, but a recent study conducted in Austria suggests that the issue is more complex and that tears are not always associated with mood improvement after they have been shed.
A research team from Karl Landsteiner University for Medical Research monitored and recorded 315 crying episodes, trying to understand the reasons why people cry, and the emotions and feelings that follow these episodes.
According to the study published in the "Collabra Psychology" journal, which specializes in psychology, the researchers used a mobile app that allowed participants to record their feelings immediately after a crying spell, and then after 15, 30, and 60 minutes from its conclusion.
Tears Do Not Guarantee Emotional Relief
The results showed that crying does not necessarily bring an immediate sense of relief; in fact, many reported feeling worse after the tears stopped. The study indicated that the nature of the reason for crying plays a crucial role in the type of subsequent emotions.
Researchers found that crying due to stress, loneliness, or psychological pressures often correlates with negative feelings after the tears stop, whereas crying as a result of listening to a touching story or watching a dramatic film is usually associated with a feeling of relief or emotional release.
Not All Tears Are the Same
The study also concluded that there are differences between genders; women tend to cry more and with greater intensity, and their crying is often associated with feelings of loneliness, while men typically cry when they feel unable to act or when watching certain impactful media content.
The researchers observed that any emotional effect resulting from crying - whether positive or negative - tends to dissipate within hours, meaning that tears do not usually lead to a long-term shift in mood.
Members of the research team told the "Health Day" medical research website that "there is still no conclusive scientific evidence to affirm that crying makes people feel better than their usual selves," thus putting a question mark on the widely held idea that tears always "purify" emotions and soothe the soul.
