Affect labeling as a buffer: reducing anxiety in the face of violent news

Pedro Hemsley and Lynda Pavão

Applied Economics Letters, 2025, vol. 32, issue 11, 1564-1567

Abstract: Affect labelling, the process of putting feelings into words, has been shown to have a calming effect on the brain. This study examines the impact of affect labelling on self-reported levels of anxiety after exposure to distressing news. We conducted an online experiment in which participants were randomly assigned to either a control group or a treatment group. Both groups were exposed to news about a violent crime and then asked to report their level of anxiety. The treatment group also went through a questionnaire to label their feelings before reporting their anxiety level. We found that self-reported anxiety levels were significantly lower in the treatment group, suggesting that affect labelling can be an effective tool for reducing anxiety generated by negative news.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2024.2308569

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