Amusing Ourselves to Health: A Selected Review of Lab Findings
Published 2013 · Evangeline Wheeler
2
Citations
0
Influential Citations
Abstract
Scores of scientific studies from various disciplines support the widespread notion that humor and laughter benefit psychological and physiological health. Some of those studies are reviewed here in the context of immune system functions, pain and stress management, cognition, and interpersonal social networks. A final section considers ways in which people in later stages of life might benefit from applied humor and laughter interventions. But there are cautions to consider in the application of the many findings from empirical research on humor and laughter.
Study Snapshot
Key takeawayHumor and laughter can benefit psychological and physiological health, but caution is needed when applying these findings to specific populations and stages of life.
PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)
Sample size24
MethodsObservational
OutcomesBody Mass Index projections
ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.