Feeling stressed? Are midterms getting you down?
Engaging in humor may be one of the best ways that we can choose to respond to stressful situations. There are many psychological and physiological benefits associated with humor and laughter. Studies show that by reducing pain and increasing endorphin levels, humor defuses our anxiety and increases our ability to reason (Dunbar, 2012). Hate going to the gym? It seems too good to be true, but researchers have shown that watching a humorous video for just twenty minutes can lower stress levels on a level comparable to twenty minutes of exercise (Szabo, 2003)! Humor is a powerful tool for when we need strength or courage, and it increases our self-efficacy, positive affect, and optimism—all of which are linked to higher academic performance and increased life satisfaction (Leung, Moneta, & McBride-Chang, 2005)
So, next time you’re feeling stressed, try fueling a little laughter to manage it.
-Mia Krumerman, APUG Sophomore
References
Dunbar, R. I., Baron, R., Frangou, A., Pearce, E., Van, E. J., Stow, J., . . . & Van, M. (2012, March 22). Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21920973
Szabo, A. (2003). The acute effects of humor and exercise on mood and anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.nrpa.org/globalassets/journals/jlr/2003/volume-35/jlr- volume-35- number-2- pp-152- 162.pdf
Leung, B. W., Moneta, G. B., & McBride-Chang, C. (2005). Think positively and feel positively: Optimism and life satisfaction in late life. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16318251