Happiness can be a Friends video

People who suffer from stress do not have to move a muscle to improve their overall mood, new research claims.

Nottingham Trent University researchers said sufferers can regain the "feel good factor" by watching their favourite sitcom or listening to music.

Stress researcher and health psychology expert Dr Attila Szabo tried to find a new way to help emotional wellbeing.

Participants were exposed to stationary cycling, sitting quietly, listening to new-age music and watching Friends.

Psychological questionnaires were used to assess their mood and anxiety levels five minutes before and five minutes after each treatment.

'Humour and music'

It was found the immediate psychological benefits of humour and music were greater than those generated from a bout of exercise.

Dr Szabo is based within the university's School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences.

He said: "Studies into the relationship between physical exercise and mental health have become extremely popular within health psychology.

"These results suggest that the acute mental benefits of exercise can be reproduced with physically less demanding and virtually effortless interventions, such as humour and music.

"It should be remembered, however, that this was a study into psychological wellbeing and there is no substitute for exercise in terms of physical health."