Humour and health promotion

Abstract

Objective To inform those who wish to recommend or evaluate humour as a therapeutic intervention.

Design Review of literature relating to the putative effects of humour on health.

Method Evaluation, interpretation, and synthesis of existing literature relating to humour and health published in many disciplines including anthropology, communication, counselling, education, gender studies, linguistics, literature, medicine, neuroscience, philosophy, physiology, psychology, and sociology.

Conclusion It would seem that the health-related benefits of humour are becoming a popular subject for postgraduate students, with a steady stream of articles appearing in healthcare journals over the last few years. Many of these articles have relied on anecdotal evidence or secondary sources rather than original data, whilst at the same time ignoring the lack of empirical work on the identification of exactly when humour is healthy or unhealthy. These healthcare articles have helped to support a burgeoning business in the beneficence of humour, which is further reported in books, workshops, newsletters, web sites, and the media. However, before recommending or evaluating the role of humour and laughter in health promotion, it is essential to (a) appreciate the multidimensional and multidisciplinary nature of the variables under investigation; and (b) examine original empirical data rather than rely on anecdotal evidence or secondary sources.