The effects of humor on secretory immunoglobulin A levels in school-aged children.

Although research with adult subjects has demonstrated a positive correlation between humor and increased concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA), the literature has not addressed whether humor might have a similar effect on children. Fifth grade student volunteers (N = 39) at an elementary school in Arkansas were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The study compared S-IgA levels collected before and after the treatment group subjects (n = 21) participated in a humor program and the control group subjects (n = 18) participated in an educational non-humorous presentation. Concentrations of immunoglobulin A were increased in fifth-graders who observed a humorous presentation, but remained unchanged in those who observed a non-humorous educational presentation. Further research is needed to determine the role that humor interventions might play in nursing's ongoing pursuit for health promotion and disease prevention in children.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes