Unwinding is all a matter of personal preference, whether you like to watch Netflix or something a little more X-rated. But a study from University College London suggests there's a more exact science to the effectiveness activities we use to relax.

Of the 251 men surveyed, a third of men used video games as a stress reliever making it the most popular way to decompress. A total of 29% of men said playing video games helped them cope with stress, 74% said talking with friends, and 31% said comfort eating. Only 27% of men picked having sex or watching porn—perhaps surprising, given that it is seen as a way to let off steam.

240 women also took part and chose activities like reading a self-help book, talking to friends, or doing arts and crafts. Only 11% of women listed having sex or watching porn as a way to cope with stress.

The study concluded that gamers "were found to have an overall lower need for recovery, lower negative work/home interference and had a more effective recovery experience, particularly in relation to the subscales of relaxation and psychological detachment, than non-gamers."

Made Of Us also point to a 2010 study at Texas A&M University, which found that "both men and women who play violent video games long-term seem to be able to adopt mental skills to handle stress, become less depressed and get less hostile during stressful tasks."

Get gaming, folks.

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