Effects of color images on stress reduction: Using images as mood stimulants

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether color images can be used as mood stimulants. Methods: Color photographs of natural scenery were shown to an experimental group (n = 10), while the same images in black and white were shown to a control group (n = 10). The test subjects were healthy, adult volunteers who were exposed to psychosomatic stress in mental work rather than physical labor. To determine the effects of the color images, the levels of salivary chromogranin A (CgA) and salivary cortisol were measured as biochemical parameters, and the mood adjective score was examined as an emotional parameter before and after showing the subjects the images. The data obtained were statistically compared. Results: In the experimental group, the salivary CgA level decreased significantly after viewing the color images. In the control group, the salivary cortisol level increased significantly after viewing the black and white images. The changes in the salivary CgA and salivary cortisol values in the experimental group were significantly different from the corresponding changes in the control group. In the experimental group, after viewing the color images, the negative mean mood score decreased, and four subjects were shown to have had their mood changed to a more parasympathetically dominant state, as assessed by alterations in three or more of four stress parameters (CgA, cortisol, Multiple Mood Scale negative and positive factors). Conclusion: Color images might potentially change the mood of a viewer to a more parasympathetically dominant state.

Effect of Visual Stimulus on Psychology

“…In the experiment, the scientists found that the CgA level of the experimental group was significantly reduced. In the experimental group, the negative mean mood score decreased, which can declare that color images can potentially change the mood of the people who look at the image [5].…”

“…Another similar study was introduced in the article Effect of Color Images on Stress Reduction: Using images as mood stimulants [5]. The aim of the study is to determine whether color images can be used as "mood stimulants" [5]. The test subjects were healthy adult volunteers who were subjected to mental rather than physical stress.…”

Receptive Arts Engagement for Health: A Holistic and Trans-Disciplinary Approach to Creating a Multisensory Environment

“…The reported benefits include enhanced perceptions of happiness and life satisfaction, improved mental health and wellbeing, and reduced cardiovascular reactivity and psychological distress (Cuypers et al, 2012;Davies et al, 2016;Michalos & Kahike, 2010;Renton et al, 2012). Artworks that incorporate images or references to nature have been shown to be particularly effective in supporting stress reduction and restorative outcomes in both health care and public settings (Gillis & Gatersleben, 2015;Kjellgren & Buhrkall, 2010;Lankston et al, 2010;Saito & Tada, 2007;Salonen et al, 2013). For instance, large nature murals situated in study-break areas have demonstrated restoration of depleted cognitive resources among university students (Felsten, 2009).…”

A Review on the Role of Color and Light in Affective Computing

“…For achromatic colors the most attractive one is white, followed by black and, finally, gray. Another experiment seeking to evaluate the effects of color images on mental stress reduction is [30]. The participants are shown colored photographs of natural scenery.…”

“…But still this influence is constant and permanent. Color and light perception affects our emotions and feelings, and this impact has been examined considerably with respect to color/mood associations [26,29,30], color meaning [24,47], color preference [38,48], and color perception by particular demographic groups and psychologically healthy/unhealthy persons [25,49,50].…”