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The Sound of Susurrus: The Relationship between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) Exposure and Well-Being

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• Volume 13,Issue 1, Jan. 2026

Year:

2026

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model, Media Use, Media Effects, Well-Being, PERMA

Authors:

• Wai, Chan Ko
• Uusiautti, Satu
• Korte, Satu-Maarit

Journal:

IJIRES

Volume:

13

Number:

1

Pages:

1-22

Month:

January

ISSN:

2349-5219

BibTex:

@article{2094, author = "Chan Ko Wai and Satu Uusiautti and Satu-Maarit Korte", abstract = "The study examines the relationship between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) exposure and users’ psychological well-being. Specifically, it tested predictions of well-being elements within the framework of the Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects model. An online survey of 341 adults indicated that viewing the ASMR was associated with various media responses. Moreover, ASMR was associated with beneficial effects on all three well-being outcomes (positive emotion, engagement, and relationships) via different combinations of indirect effects of the media responses: two positive (nostalgia and cognitive reappraisal) and two negative (positive affect and tingling sensations). Additionally, two indirect effects of ASMR were moderated by social influence. For social influence participants, ASMR showed substantial associations with positive affect through the interaction of social influence with ASMR content use but weaker associations with nostalgia through the interaction of social influence and prior ASMR experience.", issn = "23495219", journal = "IJIRES", keywords = "Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model, Media Use, Media Effects, Well-Being, PERMA", month = "January", number = "1", pages = "1-22", title = "{T}he {S}ound of {S}usurrus: {T}he {R}elationship between {A}utonomous {S}ensory {M}eridian {R}esponse ({ASMR}) {E}xposure and {W}ell-{B}eing", volume = "13", year = "2026", }

Abstract:

The study examines the relationship between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) exposure and users’ psychological well-being. Specifically, it tested predictions of well-being elements within the framework of the Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects model. An online survey of 341 adults indicated that viewing the ASMR was associated with various media responses. Moreover, ASMR was associated with beneficial effects on all three well-being outcomes (positive emotion, engagement, and relationships) via different combinations of indirect effects of the media responses: two positive (nostalgia and cognitive reappraisal) and two negative (positive affect and tingling sensations). Additionally, two indirect effects of ASMR were moderated by social influence. For social influence participants, ASMR showed substantial associations with positive affect through the interaction of social influence with ASMR content use but weaker associations with nostalgia through the interaction of social influence and prior ASMR experience.

Full text: IJIRES_2094_FINAL.pdf Online version [Bibtex]