ASMR Through the Eyes of the Public: Opinions on Its Possible Therapeutic Role

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a phenomenon characterized by the occurrence of specific somatic and emotional sensations induced by audiovisual stimuli. Despite the growing popularity of ASMR on social media and reports of its potential relaxation-related effects, there is a lack of conclusive data supporting its use as a therapeutic tool.</p><p><strong>Aim:</strong> This study aimed to assess social awareness of ASMR, characterize the demographic profile of its users, and estimate the therapeutic potential of ASMR in the context of social perception of this method and the declared willingness to use it.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The study was exploratory and conducted using an anonymous online questionnaire among 203 respondents of diverse ages, sexes, and educational backgrounds. The analysis included familiarity with ASMR, patterns and frequency of ASMR content use, preferred sensory stimuli, subjective emotional responses, and attitudes toward the potential use of ASMR in therapy.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The results demonstrated that ASMR is mainly known among individuals under 30 years of age and is primarily used for entertainment and relaxation. At the same time, a significant proportion of respondents reported neutral or negative reactions, and more than half did not express a willingness to use ASMR as a therapeutic method.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The obtained results indicate that ASMR remains a phenomenon with limited acceptance as a therapeutic tool, and its potential clinical application requires further research into its mechanisms of action, safety, and individual differences in sensory processing.</p>.