Effects of Laughing Training on Stress Levels in Thai Private Office Workers
Uayart Chuchuen PhD*, Pornphun Parnpiansil MD**, Panaree Busarakumtragul PhD***
Affiliation : * Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand ** In Buri Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Singburi, Thailand *** Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Laughing is a kind of well known alternative medicine used to treat stressful persons or depressive patients to
relax. The laughing program used in this study was initially designed by Thai psychiatrists. It consists of deep diaphragmatic
breathing exercises, voice expression, facial expression exercises and aerobic exercises, which are expected to promote good
health.
Objective : To evaluate the effects of the laughing training on stress levels in Thai private office workers.
Material and Method: Thirty-eight subjects whose age 25-60 years were recruited to enroll in this program. They were
randomly divided into two groups: 20 people for the experimental group and 18 persons for the control group. The
experimental subjects participated in laughing program for 3 days/week, 60 minutes/day for 8 consecutive weeks. The
program took place from June to July 2013. The level of stress was assessed using the Suanprung stress test-60 (SPST-60).
The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test dependent and t-test independent with p<0.05 considered significant.
Results : After they joined the laughing program, no significant difference was found in the mean scores of the level of stress
between the control and experimental groups. However, the sensitivities to the arousal events in the experimental group had
a tendency to decrease.
Conclusion : Laughing training may be used as a tool to promote better health. There was no significant difference in the
stress levels after the program was ended except a decrement tendency in the sensitivities to the arousal events. For further
study, duration and intensity of the course may be adjusted for a more effective training program.
Keywords : Laughing training, Level of stress, Suanprung stress test
