Studies show that people who find ASMR videos soothing are more likely to be linked to neurotic personality traits

If you’re like me, you’ll find ASMR videos intensely satisfying to watch—especially before bedtime. But did you know they’re actually beneficial? Studies have proven that ASMR viewing can help relieve anxiety and treat symptoms of stress and insomnia.

The term ASMR only came to existence in 2010, following the sparking of a craze on the internet. While viewing and listening to ASMR, AKA autonomous sensory meridian response, a person experiences a tingling sensation that usually begins on the scalp and moves down the neck and spine. ASMR videos can range from page-turning, cutting, cooking, typing, tapping, brushing, crunching, or my personal favorite—ice clinking noises and cutting pieces of chocolate.

Not everyone enjoys ASMR the way I do. Some people don’t experience it at all, and actually find it irritating. Among those who do experience ASMR, they often have different triggers. While tapping nails might work for one person, listening to typing sounds might work better for another. Research has also shown people who are able to experience ASMR tend to be more anxious and neurotic on average.

While research on ASMR is still limited, and has not been taken seriously by many scientists, some studies have been undertaken to explore the potential benefits of the phenomenon. According to a recent study, some people find ASMR helps them to relieve stress, depression, insomnia, and negative mood symptoms. Additional research has also found that the phenomenon can help slow the heart rate, leading the body to enter a state of calm. 

Another study from Northumbria University recruited 64 participants between 18 to 58 years old to watch a five-minute ASMR video incorporating a wide range of ASMR triggers. Of the 64 participants, 36 were categorized as ASMR experiencers and the rest were ASMR non-experiencers. This was based on responses to the video, and whether or not they had experienced ASMR previously. The ASMR experiencers reported significantly reduced anxiety. 

Statistical analysis of the participants’ responses also found that ASMR experiencers had higher levels of neuroticism, trait anxiety, and state anxiety before watching the video. State anxiety was reduced for ASMR experiencers. In contrast, non-experiencers did not undergo a decrease in state anxiety after the video. Overall, the findings concluded that ASMR experiencers may be characterized by higher levels of anxiety disorders and neuroticism than non-experiencers. Furthermore, ASMR could serve as an intervention for people with greater levels of anxiety and neuroticism in general.

Have you tried watching an ASMR video? Find out whether you feel the tingles!