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eCAM Advance Access published online on January 16, 2006
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nek015
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© The Author (2006). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Received March 30, 2005
Accepted December 29, 2005

Review

Humor and Laughter may Influence Health. I. History and Background

Mary Payne Bennett 1 * and Cecile A. Lengacher 2

1 Indiana State University College of Nursing, IN, USA
2 University of South Florida College of Nursing, FL, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Mary Payne Bennett, E-mail: mbennett2{at}isugw.indstate.edu


  Abstract

Articles in both the lay and professional literature have extolled the virtues of humor, many giving the impression 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. Current research indicates that using humor is well accepted by the public and is frequently used as a coping mechanism. However, the scientific evidence of the benefits of using humor on various health related outcomes still leaves many questions unanswered.

Keywords: Humor; Health.
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