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Medicine and Health Sciences Commons

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Nursing

Western Kentucky University

Humor in medicine

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Humor And Laughter May Influence Health [Part] Iv. Humor And Immune Function, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher Jan 2007

Humor And Laughter May Influence Health [Part] Iv. Humor And Immune Function, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher

Nursing Faculty Publications

This is the final article in a four part series reviewing the influence of humor and laughter on physiological and psychological well-being. This final article reviews the evidence for the effect of sense of humor, exposure to a humor stimulus and laughter on various immune system components, with a focus on the effects of laughter on natural killer cell cytotoxicity.


Humor And Laughter May Influence Health: [Part] Iii. Laughter And Health Outcomes, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher Jan 2007

Humor And Laughter May Influence Health: [Part] Iii. Laughter And Health Outcomes, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher

Nursing Faculty Publications

This is part three of a four-part series reviewing the evidence on how humor influences physiological and psychological well-being. The first article included basic background information, definitions and a review of the theoretical underpinnings for this area of research. The second article discussed use of humor as a complementary therapy within various clinical samples, as well as evidence concerning how a sense of humor influences physiological and psychological wellbeing. This third article examines how laughter influences health outcomes; including muscle tension, cardio-respiratory functioning and various stress physiology


Humor And Laughter May Influence Health. [Part] I. History And Background, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile A. Lengacher Jan 2006

Humor And Laughter May Influence Health. [Part] I. History And Background, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile A. Lengacher

Nursing Faculty Publications

Articles in both the lay and professional literature have extolled the virtues of humor, many giving the mpression that the health benefits of humor are well documented by the scientific and medical community.The concept that humor or laughter can be therapeutic goes back to biblical times and this belief has received varying levels of support from the scientific community at different points in its history. urrent research indicates that using humor is well accepted by the public and is frequently used as a oping mechanism. However, the scientific evidence of the benefits of using humor on various health related outcomes …


Humor And Laughter May Influence Health: [Part] Ii. Complementary Therapies And Humor In A Clinical Population, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher Jan 2006

Humor And Laughter May Influence Health: [Part] Ii. Complementary Therapies And Humor In A Clinical Population, Mary Payne Bennett, Cecile Lengacher

Nursing Faculty Publications

Our results support a connection between sense of humor and self-reported physical health, however, it is difficult to determine the relationship to any specific disease process. Whereas relationships between sense of humor and self-reported measures of physical well-being appear to be supported, more research is required to determine interrelationships between sense of humor and well-being.


The Effect Of Mirthful Laughter On Stress And Natural Killer Cell Activity, Mary P. Bennett, Janice M. Zeller, Lisa Rosenberg, Judith Mccann Jan 2003

The Effect Of Mirthful Laughter On Stress And Natural Killer Cell Activity, Mary P. Bennett, Janice M. Zeller, Lisa Rosenberg, Judith Mccann

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Use Of Humor As A Complementary Therapy, Mary Bennett Jan 1999

Use Of Humor As A Complementary Therapy, Mary Bennett

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.