The science of positive affirmations
A 2013 study in undergraduate college students showed that positive self-affirmation helped stressed students. Affirmations improve problem solving performance, helping them test well even when stressed.
Also, a 2001 follow up study on college-aged women found that a 6-week cognitive-behavioral intervention led to fewer traits of depression. The strategies used in the intervention were thought-stopping and positive affirmations. The goal of using these was to reduce negative identification and negative thinking. The women who underwent the intervention had greater self-esteem than the group who did not, and the differences between the groups remained in place 18 months later.
The benefits have even been measured using brain scans. In a 2015 study, fMRI scans revealed that people who used positive affirmation techniques experienced “increased activity in key regions of the brain’s self-processing and valuation systems.” This increased activity encourages more mental and physical activity.