If someone tells you a joke today and it makes you laugh, thank them. Turns out they did you a favor. That’s because laughter is scientifically proven to benefit mental health. Leading benefits of laughter include stress reduction, strengthened social connections, and the release of your body’s “feel good” chemical endorphins.
As a result, one of the many benefits of laughter and humor is the power to combat anxiety and depression, according to researchers. Therefore, laughter is a good medicine for people of all ages, especially older adults.
“Laughter has a way of instantly connecting people and is one of the most basic and fundamental ways in which we communicate as human beings. But more than that—laughter can increase confidence, self-esteem, creativity, positivity and resilience, bringing positive changes to all aspects of our lives,” said “Laughter consultant” Joe Bluett.
The Humor-Health Link
The late Norman Cousins is perhaps the best-known proponent of laughter as medicine. Around age 50, Cousins was diagnosed with a connective tissue disease and a condition known as ankylosing spondylitis. In fact, doctors told him that he had only a one-in-500 chance of recovery.
Soon after, Cousins discovered that he felt less pain and fewer symptoms while enjoying something that made him laugh. Therefore, he prescribed himself regular doses of laughter, brought on by watching episodes of Candid Camera and old Marx Brothers movies. As a result, Cousins lived for another 25 years after his diagnosis. Furthermore, he began to study the medical effects of laughter with the support of California University Hospital.
Since then, researchers have continued to validate laughter’s pain-relieving effect and benefits. Additionally, studies have shown that laughter strengthens the immune system. Most likely, this is because laughter, like other forms of happiness, triggers the nervous system’s relaxation response. Moreover, a good laugh relieves physical tension, relaxing the muscles for about 45 minutes.
Because what happens in the body also affects the mind, these positive changes in physical health also profoundly impact mental health.
The Mental Health Benefits of Laughter
We have a lot to gain from laughing! Laughter has the following effects on our overall mental health:
- Releases endorphins: Natural chemicals in the body, endorphins promote a sense of well-being and relieve stress.
- Decreases anger: When we’re in a difficult situation or a disagreement with another person, seeing the humor in it can help. Specifically, laughter defuses anger, conflict, and self-blame.
- Eases distressing emotions: Laughter counteracts feelings of anxiety and sadness. Moreover, it helps us release other intense emotions, such as grief.
- Relaxes and revitalizes: Along with reducing stress, laughter increases energy levels. Therefore, we can stay focused more easily.
- Changes your perspective: Laughter helps us access another point of view. Moreover, we begin to see something in a new, less scary way when we laugh about it. In addition, humor helps us take things less seriously.
- Reduces stress: When we laugh and smile, cortisol levels decrease. Cortisol is also the stress hormone, so lower levels are better for mental health. Therefore, laughter increases our stress resilience.
- Brings more joy and fun into our lives: This one is self-explanatory!
Read about the difference between stress and anxiety.
Laughter and Comedy as Therapy
The benefits of laughter are so beneficial for mental health that psychologists have figured out ways to incorporate it into therapy. Psychologists formed the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH). This group of experts dedicates their time to promoting the use of humor in psychiatric settings to treat severe mental health challenges.
Furthermore, Stand Up for Mental Health uses stand-up comedy to promote healing. Specifically, counselor and comic David Granirer trains people to turn their experiences with mental health challenges into standup comedy routines.
Subsequently, they perform their acts at conferences, treatment centers, mental health organizations, college and university campuses, and other venues. As a result, the performers gain a sense of control and self-worth. Moreover, these performances help educate the public about mental health issues and thus reduce stigma.
Scientific Validation for Laughter’s Impact on Mental Health
The study of laughter is called gelotology. Established in the late 1960s, this field of study examines humor’s physiological and psychological effects. Therefore, many researchers have found evidence of the healing power of laughter.
Below are a few highlights of the extensive research on laughter and mental health, including several studies involving teens and young adults.
- Research by Ramon Mora-Ripoll, medical scientific director at Organizacién Mundial de la Risa in Barcelona, Spain, showed that laughter releases physical and emotional tension, elevates mood, enhances cognitive functioning, and increases friendliness.
- Similarly, a study of female college students showed that humor and exercise reduced psychological distress and increased well-being. However, humor lowered the students’ anxiety more than exercise did.
- In another study of undergraduates, researchers exposed participants to depression-inducing stimuli. Next, they played either humorous or non-humorous audiotapes. Subsequently, they found that humor reduced levels of depression more quickly.
- A study of 95 male college students and 125 female students found that having a good sense of humor directly mitigates depression.
- University students participated in a laboratory study on humor and anxiety. Specifically, students were falsely led to believe they would receive a shock in 12 minutes. While waiting, they listened to a humorous, non-humorous, or no tape. Subjects who listened to the humorous tape rated themselves as less anxious and reported less increase in stress as the shock approached.
- A study examined a group of people’s reactions to funhouse mirror images of themselves. The findings revealed that those who laughed most frequently at pictures of themselves also showed fewer signs of negative emotion.
This is only a sampling of the dozens of clinical studies on humor’s effect on mental and physical health.
Making Yourself Laugh Works, Too
Typically, something makes us laugh, and the benefits to the mind and body come next. However, it can also go the other way around. When we laugh or smile, even if it’s fake, the body responds as if it’s real. Therefore, we receive the same benefits, such as releasing endorphins in the brain.
In other words, simulated laughter can be just as good for your well-being as the real thing. A Georgia State University study found that incorporating simulated laughter into an exercise program helped improve older adults’ mental health and their aerobic endurance.
Additionally, psychologist Steve Wilson started the World Laughter Tour to share humor and laughter’s psychological and physiological benefits. The World Laughter Tour promotes “laughter therapy” by offering programs, events, and training that teach people about the benefits of laughter for happiness and health. Participants learn to laugh without the aid of jokes. Eventually, the simulated laughter turns into real laughter.
“Every day there is more news about the power of humor and laughter to heal us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Every system of the body responds to laughter in some important, positive, healing way,” said Steve Wilson, psychologist and self-proclaimed “joyologist.”
Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga, developed by physician Madan Kataria in Mumbai, India, is based on the idea that making ourselves laugh benefits our health. It combines breathing techniques, simple movements, and simulated laughter. Specifically, the sessions begin with exercises that mimic the physical activity of laughter.
Subsequently, the fake laughter transforms into genuine laughter. This happens partly because hearing others laugh, even for no apparent reason, makes us laugh. A study with brain scans revealed that our brains respond to another person’s laughter by preparing our facial muscles to join in.
Moreover, Laughter Yoga’s impact on depression has been scientifically validated. Among other studies, research published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that Laughter Yoga was more effective than physical exercise in alleviating the effects of depression in older women.
Laughter and Relationships
More than jokes, being with others makes us laugh. Robert Provine, a psychologist from the University of Maryland, found that we laugh most when talking to friends. In fact, Provine found that we are 30 times more likely to laugh at something when we are with other people.
That’s good news, because laughter benefits our connections with others. In turn, stronger connections benefit our mental and emotional health. When we laugh with a friend or group of friends, our bonds get stronger. Laughter brings us together. Overall, humor and playfulness strengthen our relationships.
Moreover, laughter helps heal rifts or disagreements between people. Specifically, laughing with a friend or loved one helps us take ourselves less seriously. As a result, we become less defensive and less stuck in our point of view.
In one study, psychologist Robert W. Levenson of the University of California at Berkeley asked couples to discuss something about their partner that annoyed them. Subsequently, some couples laughed and smiled while having the conversation. As a result, they felt better immediately and reported higher levels of satisfaction in their relationship. Furthermore, Levenson found that these couples stayed together longer.
In addition, laughing with another person creates what positive psychology researcher Barbara Fredrickson calls a micro-moment of positive connection. A positive, authentic connection is key to mental health. Therefore, our happiness levels go up when we laugh together.
How to Bring More Laughter Into Your Life
Want more happiness in your life? Start by cultivating more humor and laughter. Here’s how.
Smile more. Like laughter, smiling is contagious. Furthermore, it positively affects you and the people around you. Try smiling more often at colleagues, friends, and even people you meet briefly.
Practice gratitude. Your mind improves when you consciously reflect on what you’re thankful for. Therefore, keep a gratitude journal or list things you’re grateful for. Visualize that thing or person in your mind. Gratitude opens your mind and heart and brings you closer to laughter and joy.
Go where the laughter is. Spend time with people who make you laugh. When you overhear laughter, find out what the joke is. Usually, people love to share what’s making them laugh.
Host a game night. Gathering your friends around a board game is a great way to start the laughter. You can choose a humorous game if you want, but being together and being playful will catalyze laughter.
Get a pet (or look at pictures of one). Have you ever noticed that spending time with a playful pet makes you laugh more? Sometimes, looking at your pet’s expression is enough to make you smile or laugh. If you don’t have a pet, visit someone else’s—or look at pictures of cute cats and dogs doing silly things.
Tell jokes and laugh at other people’s jokes. Bring humor into your conversations. Talk about what made you laugh today, or tell your favorite jokes. Other people will respond in kind. Therefore, make sure you laugh at their jokes, too.
Try Laughter Yoga. You read about the benefits of Laughter Yoga above—now try it yourself! Look for classes and workshops in your area.
It’s clear that laughter is a good approach to reducing stress and increasing joy in everyday life. But finding the bright side of life isn’t always easy, especially if you’re experiencing mental health challenges. If you or a loved one needs support, a mental health expert can help.
Mental Health Support in Minnesota
PrairieCare supports people of all ages with a full continuum of mental health services throughout Minnesota. We offer individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, mindfulness practices, art therapy, and more. Whether you have a child who is struggling in school because of anxiety or you want to find healthy ways to cope in your daily life, our team is here for you.
To get started, call our team at 952-826-8475 or learn more here. You can also request a no-cost mental health screening by clicking the button below and filling out the form on the right. Our team will then contact you within one business day to get started.
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