Mental and Social Health Commons^™

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