Smiling at self on Zoom: The role of positive mood in mitigating mirror anxiety and Zoom fatigue

This study examined the effects of positive mood induction and smiling on Zoom fatigue, positive mood, and mirror anxiety. For this purpose, it employed a multimethod research design, recruiting participants (N = 58) who were aged 18 years or older via Prolific from the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand and employed full-time or part-time and working remotely. The participants were randomly assigned to read either positive or neutral Velten statements and instructed to smile or not smile at their video reflections. The results indicated that positive Velten statements significantly reduced Zoom fatigue, whereas smiling had no significant impact. Neither smiling nor positive statements significantly affected mirror anxiety or positive mood. The findings highlight the potential of cognitive strategies for managing fatigue in virtual environments compared with superficial behavioral interventions. The results provide insights for user experience designers and developers aiming to integrate cognitive-based strategies in virtual communication platforms to reduce digital fatigue and enhance user well-being.