Research at a university in California suggests that just anticipating a humorous experience can help boost immunity and reduce stress. The scientific study measured various hormone levels of two groups; one group anticipated watching a humorous video, and the other did not.
Some of the highlights from the study include:
- The anticipation of mirthful laughter increased two hormones associated with alleviating depression and improving immunity by an average of 57%.
- Three stress hormones were also reduced by an average of 49% when anticipating laughter
- As the lead researcher stated, “Our findings lead us to believe that by seeking out positive experiences that make us laugh we can do a lot with our physiology to stay well.”
Source: Anticipating a Laugh Reduces Our Stress Hormones, Study Shows, American Physiological Study. Science Daily, April 2008.