(WWJ) - Looks like it’s time to dust off that VHS copy of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Holiday movies aren’t just a tradition many indulge in, they’re also good for our mental health, experts say.
Michigan State University Professor Allison Eden has studied the impact of holiday movies on mental health and said the themes in holiday movies are timeless. Themes of family, a sense of being connected to others and hope are something people can identify with regardless of the decade.
Eden said even though favorite holiday movies may change as time goes on, the memories and themes are what tie people together.
“We think about movies we watched when we were children, so of course those are going to shift over time,” Eden said. “For example, my husband and I might say something like 'A Christmas Story' would be a nostalgic Christmas movie for us. Or 'It's a Wonderful Life' which we watched with our parents, whereas my kids might say something like 'Home Alone' or 'Elf'.”
Having a positive message can be particularly important during the holiday season, when stress levels can go up for many, Eden said.
These movies help by “providing a happy ending and a message of hope and inspiration to viewers,” Eden said. “So particularly at this time of year where things might be a little stressed out, a little bit hectic, these movies are not terribly complex. They tend to center around themes about love, family connectiveness, and they also make us feel really nostalgic for maybe a simpler time in our lives."
Holiday movies may have relatively simple storylines, but Eden said there is more to them than just “the funny, pleasurable, hedonic, joyful messages.” She says the themes carry a more important message and speak to a “higher meaning in life.”