Purpose: This study was based on the perspective that promoting health and preventative measures is better than curing disease. The purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Laughing Qigong Program (LQP) among junior high school students in Taiwan. Methods: We used a nonequivalent pre-test post-test design, and selected participants (N=76, age range: 12-14) from a junior high school in Taipei County. The instruments used to collect data included self-report scales of self-esteem, sense of humor, physical condition, the feeling of pressure, and attitudes toward laughter. Also we used the Face Scale to measure current mood status. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 15.0. Results: Results supported the effectiveness of the LQP for all participants. The activity resulted in an increased sense of humor (F(subscript (1,41))=5.62, p＜.05), decreased physical discomfort (F(subscript (1,4))=9.14, p＜.01), and produced more positive attitudes toward laughter (F(subscript (1,51))=12.41, p＜.05). Although no statistical significance was found in the variables of self-esteem (p=.86) or stress coping (p=.77), the participants had a positive attitude toward and supported the laughter intervention according to the score of measuring by the faces scale. Furthermore, in the follow-up study, the participants in the experimental group reported the highest item scores in ”most life change” and ”Ⅰ will talk with other people with a smiling face.” Over 90% of the participants in the follow-up group felt that the LQP promoted a positive attitude toward the future. Conclusions: Laughter intervention has positive effects on the physical and mental health status of young adolescents. These findings have important implications for positive psychotherapy. We suggest that future studies be designed for biomedical evidence-based validation of the effectiveness of LQP intervention.

Purpose: This study was based on the perspective that promoting health and preventative measures is better than curing disease. The purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Laughing Qigong Program (LQP) among junior high school students in Taiwan. Methods: We used a nonequivalent pre-test post-test design, and selected participants (N=76, age range: 12-14) from a junior high school in Taipei County. The instruments used to collect data included self-report scales of self-esteem, sense of humor, physical condition, the feeling of pressure, and attitudes toward laughter. Also we used the Face Scale to measure current mood status. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 15.0. Results: Results supported the effectiveness of the LQP for all participants. The activity resulted in an increased sense of humor (F(subscript (1,41))=5.62, p＜.05), decreased physical discomfort (F(subscript (1,4))=9.14, p＜.01), and produced more positive attitudes toward laughter (F(subscript (1,51))=12.41, p＜.05). Although no statistical significance was found in the variables of self-esteem (p=.86) or stress coping (p=.77), the participants had a positive attitude toward and supported the laughter intervention according to the score of measuring by the faces scale. Furthermore, in the follow-up study, the participants in the experimental group reported the highest item scores in ”most life change” and ”Ⅰ will talk with other people with a smiling face.” Over 90% of the participants in the follow-up group felt that the LQP promoted a positive attitude toward the future. Conclusions: Laughter intervention has positive effects on the physical and mental health status of young adolescents. These findings have important implications for positive psychotherapy. We suggest that future studies be designed for biomedical evidence-based validation of the effectiveness of LQP intervention.

笑;介入;心理健康促進;笑笑功;正向心理

laughter;intervention;promoting mental health;Laughing Qigong program;positive psychology