This knowledge is significant because chronically high stress hormone levels can be detrimental to a person’s health, particularly the immune system.
Dr. Berk was the lead researcher on a team that discovered these findings. The other researchers were Stanley A. Tan, MD, PhD, of Oakcrest Health Research Institute, and Dottie Berk, RN, patient care coordinator of pain management, Loma Linda University Health Care.
“Our findings lead us to believe that by seeking out positive lifestyle experiences that make us laugh, we can do a lot with our psychophysiology to help us stay well,” says Dr. Berk.
Having found that the anticipation of a happy laughter event increased certain beneficial chemicals/hormones, they proposed that the anticipation of a laughter event might reduce stress hormones. To test their hypothesis, they studied 16 healthy fasting male volunteers for cortisol and catecholamine level changes. The participants were randomly assigned to either the control group or the experimental group (those anticipating a humorous event).
Using a similar protocol as in the earlier study, the current research found that the same anticipation of laughter reduced cortisol by 39 percent, epinephrine by 70 percent, and dopac by 38 percent.
Blood was drawn from both groups prior to the event (anticipation), four times during the event, and three times after the event (residual effect). Analysis showed that the blood levels in the anticipatory phase decreased for the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine, and dopac in the experimental group. Trend analysis showed a progressive pattern of the decrease for the three hormones through the event and afterwards.
As a result, the researchers suggest that anticipating positive events can decrease stress hormones that can be detrimental when chronically released. These findings have implications for understanding the modalities that can benefit stress reduction, not only in health and wellness programs, but also in everyday life. After all, Dr. Berk points out, Proverbs 17:22 states that “A merry heart does good like a medicine….”
The research is titled “Cortisol and Catecholamine Stress Hormone Decrease Is Associated With The Behavior Of Perceptual Anticipation Of Mirthful Laughter.”
My comment:
Nice research. It validates the happiness and inner strengths model I first described about 1990, which uses a temporal approach to the anatomy of positive experience. The basic theory is that positive experiences are the building blocks of our inner strengths and capacity for happiness, capacity to face adversity, to develop self esteem, to build loving relationships, etc.
This study would support the second component in my model--
II} Plan, schedule, research, anticipate PEs-- not just vacations or weekend evenings-- but throughout each day of the week. Study your own behavior patterns, your inner and outer resources and your environment to build a PE knowledge base that helps you zoom in on PE opportunities-- planned or unexpected-- and schedule challenges, fun, pleasure, and good deeds.
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