I think you intended this to be a validation of the idea that small quakes relieve stress and therefore lower the chance of a large quake.

The above link does not answer that question. It is relating stress release to "fault strength", or the maximum shear stress that can be withstood by the fault. There is an incidental relationship with depth that plays a role.

The video linked nearby (on criticality) also does not address the question at issue.

I'm only replying because I work adjacent to this area, and my understanding is that the idea that small EQ's release stress is a myth. Here [1] is another link, listed as #1 in the "Myths" category. And you can dig up quotes from none other than Lucy Jones [2] saying that this is a myth.

I don't work directly in this area, so I'm not willing to say absolutely no. But I'd really like to see a head-on reference supporting the claim that it's not a myth.

[1] https://earthquakes.berkeley.edu/outreach/faq.html

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Jones

https://news.caloes.ca.gov/earthquake-myths-separating-fact-...

Myth 5 is "Small Earthquakes Relieve Pressure and Prevent Larger Ones"