Relationship of laughter with mood/emotion and cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion: intervention study

Not Applicable

• Conditions: /A (healthy people)

• Registration Number: JPRN-UMIN000019409
• Lead Sponsor: Department of Public Health, Fujita Health University School of Medicine

Brief Summary

Fujisawa A, Ota A, Matsunaga M, Li Y, Kakizaki M, Naito H, Yatsuya H. Effect of laughter yoga on salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone among healthy university students: A randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 2018 (in press) Objective: To examine whether laughter yoga (LY), i.e., simulated laughter, alters cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels and cortisol/DHEA (C/D) ratios. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 120 healthy university students were allocated to experiencing LY, watching a comedy movie (spontaneous laughter), or reading a book. Salivary cortisol and DHEA levels were measured immediately before, immediately after, and 30min after the intervention. Results: Cortisol levels and C/D ratios significantly decreased by time in the LY and comedy movie groups. Significant group*time interactions were found between these two groups for cortisol levels and C/D ratios. DHEA levels did not change by time in the LY group. Conclusions: LY decreased cortisol levels and C/D ratios but did not affect DHEA levels. Simulated and spontaneous laughter differently affected the dynamics of cortisol levels and C/D ratios. Effect of spontaneous laughter on the cortisol dynamics lasted longer than that of simulated laughter.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2015-10-28
• Study Completion: 2015-12-16
• Last Update Posted: 20 November 2023

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Complete: follow-up complete
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnancy 2. Taking medicine that could affects cortisol/DHEA secretion, such as estrogen, oral contraceptive, antipsychotic, and antidepressant

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified