A surprising reason why Zoom calls affect mental health

Many rely on the Zoom platform, whether for remote work meetings, or even to communicate with friends, but this simple practice may have a significant impact on our mental health.

Although many of us did not use platforms like Zoom before the Covid-19 pandemic, it cannot be denied that they have now become part of daily life, especially for those who still work from home.

During Zoom meetings, many people may focus on staring at themselves when they should be focusing on who is speaking or hosting the meeting, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

But, according to a new study conducted by the University of Galway in Ireland, looking at your face in virtual meetings can actually lead to mental fatigue.

The study focused on brain activity after Zoom calls and compared the results between men and women. The research found that people who use applications such as Zoom or Teams become more tired when they see themselves on the screen.

The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to conduct the experiment to monitor 32 volunteers, 16 men and 16 women. They all participated in a live Zoom call, with the self-viewing mode turned on and off at different times.

Electroencephalography (EEG) records spontaneous electrical activity non-invasively using electrodes placed on the head. It can detect when mental fatigue begins.

After observing the participants, the researchers found that fatigue levels were higher when the participants saw their photos.

According to the study, both men and women feel fatigued equally, which contradicts other findings indicating that women suffer from fatigue much more than men.

The study hopes to reveal more to help us understand fatigue when using video conferencing platforms, with the hope that employers can use them to enhance employee wellbeing.

Professor Eoin Whelan, who participated in the study, said: “The use of video conferencing platforms exploded during the lockdown period. They are still heavily used in work and education today and offer some advantages over in-person meetings. But people often report feeling overwhelmed by meetings. "Video conferencing. Our study shows that the feelings of fatigue you feel during video calls are real, and seeing your reflection makes it even more stressful."

"Just turning off the mirror image can help offset fatigue in virtual meetings," he continued.

But why does looking at ourselves cause fatigue?

Counselor Georgina Stormer, who works with patients suffering from anxiety and depression, tells the British Metro website that while we are accustomed to catching a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror, we are not accustomed to seeing how we look when we talk to other people, especially with colleagues and managers. .

She adds: “We begin to notice how we look when we speak, gesture, or listen to others. This can inadvertently lead us into a cycle of judgment and potential self-criticism, which increases our mental load. This may make it difficult for us to relax and delve into the content of the meeting,” she adds. Because we are more aware that we “exist” in some way.”