In a new study, Danish and American researchers have found that people who often watch horror movies practice enduring fictional horror-inducing phenomena and have experienced lower levels of mental stress during the pandemic than people who prefer other film genres.

310 people had to answer questions about the type of film and television program they usually watch.

Then they had to fill in statements about their emotional state during the first days of the pandemic: such as "I have been more depressed than usual", or "I feel positive about the future".

The researchers could then see a connection between fear-habit and mental well-being.

"May train on negative emotions"

"Horror consumption can contribute to lower levels of mental stress because it causes the audience to practice dealing with negative emotions in a safe environment," writes the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Department of Media, Communication and Society at the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus.