Effects of Crying on Affect: An Event-based Experience Sampling Study of Adult Emotional Crying
Recent Publication
A recent study by the Department of Psychological Methodology at KL and the Division of Neurology (University Hospital St. Pölten) investigated the effects of emotional crying in everyday life. The results show that crying does not automatically lead to an improvement in mood. The decisive factor is rather the trigger for crying, which influences the emotional effect. The effects are also only short-term and usually disappear within 60 minutes. Overall, the study provides new insights into an everyday but previously little researched behaviour.
Stieger, S., Graf, H., & Biebl, S. (2026). Effects of Crying on Affect: An Event-based Experience Sampling Study of Adult Emotional Crying. Collabra: Psychology, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.157541
Univ.-Prof. PD Mag. Dr. Stefan Stieger
Head of
Department of Psychological Methodology