Humor and Laughter May Influence Health: III. Laughter and Health Outcomes

Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher

Abstract

This is part three of a four-part series reviewing the evidence on how humor influences physiological and psychological well-being. The first article included basic background information, definitions and a review of the theoretical underpinnings for this area of research. The second article discussed use of humor as a complementary therapy within various clinical samples, as well as evidence concerning how a sense of humor influences physiological and psychological wellbeing. This third article examines how laughter influences health outcomes; including muscle tension, cardio-respiratory functioning and various stress physiology measures.

Keywords: health; humor; laughter; physiology.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Histogram represents hormonal response to viewing four different film types by healthy women. Bars indicate mean urinary output of epinephrine and norepinephrine pre- and post-stimulus (11).

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Source: PubMed

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