When crying doesn't bring relief

MedicalXpress | 三月 29, 2026

Crying is often seen as a healthy emotional release. However, a new study suggests that the picture is more complex. In a four-week smartphone-based study, researchers found that crying did not generally make people feel better. Instead, its short-term emotional impact varied depending on the reason for crying. Crying after situations of emotional strain or feeling overwhelmed was linked to lower positive affect and higher negative affect, while crying in response to moving media content was associated with a reduction in negative affect.