The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer cell cytotoxicity
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A survey of local cancer patients revealed that humor was a frequently used complementary therapy which helped them cope with stress. Introductory research has suggested that humor can decrease the perception of stress and perhaps improve the immune system's response to disease causing agents. However, there are a very limited number of rigorous intervention studies which document these effects. Using psychoneuroimmunology as a framework, the effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity was measured. Since the beneficial effect of laughter on NK activity has limited documentation in healthy males and no documentation in females, a clinical study would have been premature. Therefore, thirty-three healthy adult women were randomly assigned to either a control or humor group. Subjects in the humor group viewed a humorous video, whereas subjects in the control (distraction) group viewed a tour video. Instruments included the Life Experiences Survey, Stress-Arousal Check List, Situational Humor Response Questionnaire, Multidimensional Humor Scale, Humor Response Scale (HRS), and chromium release NK assay. Data revealed that stress scores decreased more in the humor group than in the distraction group (U = 215.5 p = 0.004); HRS scores correlated with post stress for persons in the humor group (r = $-$0.655 p = 0.004). Persons who laughed more had less stress following the video. Viewing a humorous video, in and of itself, did not significantly change NK activity (t = 1.52 p = 0.138), however, subjects who scored $\ge$25 on the HRS had significant increases in NK cytotoxicity over their baseline values (t = 2.52 p = 0.037), and as compared to the remaining participants (t = 2.1 p = 0.04). HRS scores significantly correlated with changes in NK cytotoxicity (r = 0.744 p = 0.001). Persons who laughed more had greater improvement in NK cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that laughter has the potential to reduce stress and temporarily improve NK activity in healthy women. As low NK activity has been linked to metastases and poorer prognosis, it is plausible that humor may be a useful complementary therapy in the care of persons with cancer.
This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 9802253; ProQuest document ID: 304394708. The author still retains copyright.
This item has not gone through this repository's peer-review process, but has been accepted by the indicated university or college in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the specified degree.
Type | Dissertation |
Acquisition | Proxy-submission |
Review Type | None: Degree-based Submission |
Format | Text-based Document |
Evidence Level | Randomized Controlled Trial |
Research Approach | Quantitative Research |
Keywords | Stress Coping Tools; Healing with Humor; Cancer Patients |
CINAHL Subject(s) | Stress--Prevention and Control; Killer Cells, Natural; Wit and Humor; Stress |
Grantor | Rush University |
Advisor | Zeller, Janice |
Level | Doctoral-Other |
Year | 1997 |
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