Scientists ended up with 1,004 crying episodes to analyze: Their results showed that the average boo-hoo lasted eight minutes and took place in the living room, usually alone or with one other person present. Conflict, loss, or seeing others suffer were the most common triggers for tears.

For the majority of cases — 61 percent of them — sobbers reported no change in mood compared to how they felt before moisture streamed down their cheeks. Thirty percent experienced a better mood afterward and nine percent felt worse.

“Only a minority of crying episodes were associated with mood improvement — against conventional wisdom,” says Jonathan Rottenberg, an associate professor of psychology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and the study’s lead author.