Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 2 hrs ago
Regular smiling may improve mood and ease some stress responses
Experts say deliberately smiling may help people feel better, rather than waiting for a reason to smile.
Research on the facial feedback hypothesis suggests that making a smile can affect how amused or positive someone feels.
Clinical neuropsychologist Judy Ho says smiling may influence stress-related hormones and brain chemicals linked to positive feelings.
Studies have also found lower heart rates during recovery from stressful tasks among people who smiled, compared with those who kept neutral expressions.
Ho presents smiling as one possible coping tool for some people with depression or anxiety, not a complete solution.
The meaning of a smile differs across cultures: some Americans may see a broad grin as friendly, while some East Asians may view it as unreliable or emotionally unstable.
Regular smiling may improve mood and ease some physical stress responses, according to experts cited in the report.
Research on the facial feedback hypothesis suggests that making a smile can affect how amused or positive people feel.
People who smiled during stressful tasks generally had lower heart rates during recovery than those with neutral expressions.
Experts say smiling is not a stand-alone treatment for depression or anxiety.
How smiles are interpreted can vary across cultures.
- Who
- Experts including Stanford psychology professor Jeanne Tsai and neuropsychologist Judy Ho discussed the effects of smiling.
- What
- The report describes research suggesting that smiling may affect mood and some physical stress responses.
- When
- Mainichi EN published the article on Oct. 25, 2026.
- Where
- The report discusses research and views from the United States and East Asian cultures.
- Why
- Smiling may influence emotions and stress responses, though its effects and interpretation vary.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
In a classic study, researchers asked participants to hold a pencil between their lips to adopt a smile or frown while watching a positive clip.
Mainichi EN published its report on smiling, mood and stress responses.
- Publication date
- Oct. 25, 2026
- Classic study
- Late 1980s
- Heart rate
- Smiling during stressful tasks was generally linked to lower heart rates during recovery than neutral expressions
- Researcher
- Jeanne Tsai, Stanford University
- Neuropsychologist
- Judy Ho, Pepperdine University
What people are saying
I'm not suggesting that that's the only way they can fix things.
It's just like another thing that you can add to your toolbox.
You want more of a balance between the two.