By : Mrs. Kemelia binti Omar _^K.B.;P.A.

Laughter therapy, one of the main non-pharmacological interventions, is a universal approach to reducing stress and anxiety. Since ancient times, laughter has been used to influence cognitive behavior to improve and create healthy physical, psychological, and social relationships. Studies have documented the positive role of laughter in enhancing quality of life (Kuru and Kublay, 2017; Heidari et al., 2020). Laughter therapy can be used for both preventive and therapeutic purposes. Laughter can also serve as a clinical predictor of functional disability.

An analysis of 14,233 elderly individuals (aged ≥65 years), selected for the "Japanese Gerontological Assessment Study," showed that low frequency of laughter was associated with a higher risk of functional disability (Tamada et al., 2020). After adjusting for potential confounders, the researchers reported an increased hazard ratio for functional disability among individuals with lower laughter frequency. Approximately 1.42 times higher risk of disability was noted among those who had a low or no laughter habit (Tamada et al., 2020).

Although laughter is a natural expression of positive emotions, it can be broadly categorized into five different types. Laughter has various benefits, ranging from improving cognitive function, enhancing breathing, increasing pain tolerance, to reducing stress hormones, with the cumulative effect being an improvement in psychological well-being (Scholl and Ragan, 2003; Sahakian and Frishman, 2007; Yim, 2016). Therefore, laughter therapy is used to add psychosocial behavior to improve overall quality of life (Ko and Youn, 2011). Laughter can reduce the negative effects of stress and alleviate depression by releasing neurotransmitters (Farifteh et al., 2014).

Professor Lee Berk, in his research from a university in California, USA, spent about three decades unraveling how a person’s mood impacts the immune system and its relation to disease. In his study, he concluded that laughter plays a major role in fighting off viruses, bacteria, cancer, and heart disease. Additionally, laughter can make individuals feel more relaxed and less aggressive.
According to research, people who enjoy watching funny shows are less aggressive compared to those who do not. Laughter can also enhance social skills, as shown by the fact that cheerful and easy-going people are more approachable than serious individuals. Frequent laughter helps build closer relationships.

Laughter therapy is a low-cost and easy-to-implement intervention that can help reduce various mental health issues. However, to understand the underlying psychosocial behavior, further research should be conducted on the effects of laughter on the immune and neuroendocrine systems.

Date of Input: 28/12/2024 | Updated: 28/12/2024 | ayna