Laughter Therapy

This longitudinal study examined whether laughter can reduce stress symptoms following stressful events in daily life. Forty-one university students recorded their experiences of stress and laughter frequency over 14 days using a smartphone app. Results showed that frequent laughter significantly weakened the relationship between stressful events and subsequent stress symptoms. However, the intensity of laughter had no measurable effect. The study supports laughter as a practical and accessible stress-buffering tool, emphasizing its role in mental well-being.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether hearing laughter improves the recovery of the autonomic nervous system after a stress-inducing task. Ninety college students were divided into two groups: one listened to recorded laughter, while the other rested for five minutes after performing a stressful test. The results showed that the laughter group experienced a significant increase in parasympathetic nervous activity (indicated by heart rate variability) and a decrease in perceived stress compared to the rest group. These findings suggest that hearing laughter can help the body recover more effectively from stress, offering a simple and accessible mental health management method.

This review explores the intersection of humor, laughter, learning, and health, highlighting their profound psychological and physiological impacts. Laughter is shown to reduce stress hormones like cortisol, enhance immune function, and improve cardiovascular health. In education, humor fosters better relationships, reduces anxiety, and increases engagement, memory retention, and performance. The findings emphasize laughter's role in both mental health and learning, suggesting it as a powerful, universal tool for well-being.

This study investigated whether laughter yoga (LY) could improve stress-coping behaviors in first-year nursing students adjusting to university life. Participants were split into intervention and control groups, with the intervention group attending six 45-minute LY sessions. LY significantly improved coping behaviors, particularly "stay optimistic" and "problem solving," and reduced physical stress symptoms. These findings highlight LY as a promising, non-drug method to enhance mental health and adaptability in high-stress environments, potentially benefiting cognitive resilience and focus.

This study investigated the effects of a therapeutic laughter program (TLP) on anxiety, depression, and stress in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Sixty-two participants were randomized into a TLP group or a control group. The TLP group attended four 60-minute sessions involving laughter exercises and education. Results showed significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress after just one session, with greater improvements after four sessions. The findings highlight laughter’s potential as a noninvasive, low-cost, and effective complementary therapy for managing psychological stress in cancer patients, improving their overall quality of life.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated how spontaneous laughter affects cortisol levels, a key marker of stress. Analyzing eight studies involving 315 participants, researchers found that laughter interventions—such as watching comedy or laughter therapy—led to a significant average reduction in cortisol levels by 31.9%. Even a single laughter session reduced cortisol levels by 36.7%. The study highlights laughter’s potential to improve stress resilience by influencing the HPA axis, an important neuroendocrine system.

This research highlights the benefits of laughter therapy as a non-pharmacological approach to reduce stress and anxiety, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Laughter stimulates the release of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin while reducing stress hormones like cortisol. It also improves sleep quality, reduces depressive symptoms, and enhances the overall quality of life. The study emphasizes laughter therapy as a cost-effective, universal intervention with significant mental health benefits across age groups and vulnerable populations.

This study explored whether laughter yoga (LY), which combines simulated laughter with yogic breathing, can reduce acute stress. Thirty-five healthy participants were divided into LY, relaxation breathing, or control groups and exposed to a standardized stress test. While LY did not alter participants' perception of stress or autonomic responses, it significantly reduced cortisol, a key stress hormone, compared to controls. This suggests LY can specifically modulate the endocrine stress response, potentially reducing the harmful effects of prolonged stress. Its ease of practice and affordability make it a promising supplement to traditional stress-management techniques.

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of laughter-inducing therapies on mental and physical health outcomes, including depression, stress, and anxiety. Analyzing data from 86 studies and 29 controlled trials, the research found that non-humorous (simulated) laughter therapies, such as laughter yoga, had stronger effects than spontaneous (humorous) laughter. Results showed significant reductions in depression and anxiety, along with moderate reductions in stress. However, the study highlighted a substantial risk of bias and variability in methodology, limiting the reliability of the conclusions. These findings support laughter as a low-cost, universally accessible therapy with potential to enhance well-being and stress resilience.

This randomized controlled study examined the effects of online laughter therapy on anxiety, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighty senior students were divided into intervention and control groups, with the intervention group participating in ten sessions of laughter therapy over five weeks. Results showed significant improvements in life satisfaction and psychological well-being, as well as a marked decrease in anxiety in the intervention group compared to the control group. The findings suggest that laughter therapy can be a practical, cost-effective, and easily accessible method to address mental health challenges during times of stress and uncertainty.

This theoretical review explores the therapeutic potential of laughter in mental health. Laughter therapy, as a non-invasive and cost-effective treatment, reduces stress hormones like cortisol and enhances mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. It also improves immunity, promotes better interpersonal relationships, and mitigates symptoms of depression, anxiety, and tension. Laughter’s ability to positively affect both mind and body positions it as a complementary therapy to improve quality of life and mental health resilience.