Have you heard the one about the psychiatrists who laugh all day?

There's no punch line. There's no joke. There is, however, a number of laughing psychiatrists in Newton.

"Laughter is good for the body, and it's a hoot," said Nate Regier, a licensed psychologist with Prairie View.

Regier and Heidi Beckman have been researching the effects of laughter on not only individuals, but the workplace.
 
For three weeks, 30 Prairie View employees took part in the study. Following a 45 minute introduction to the Laughter Links program, employees were asked to come to work 15 minutes early for a laugh session.

The results were amazing.

"We are really jazzed about this," Regier said.

One employee's historically high blood pressure came down to normal levels. He has stopped taking blood pressure medication. Another, always overwhelmed by the stacks of paperwork on his desk in the mornings, found he started getting more done while worrying less.

"The most compelling finding was in positive emotions," Regier said. "People's hormone levels changed, and people are having a positive impact on the health of the people around them."

In the long run it could mean lower health care costs, lower heath insurance, less absenteeism, less workplace and personal stress and less turnover of employees.

"If it reduces turnover, it doesn't take long for a program like this to show its value," Regier said.

Your job this fun?

Beckman and Regier used a self efficacy test to measure the results of the laughter meetings. Self competency scores increased. Assertiveness, motivation, optimism and self-regulation scores for those in the test group increased.

According to the research findings, which have not been published, the improvements in those areas directly impact work performance, resiliency, heath status and morale.

All from just a few minutes of yoga-induced laughter.

"I think we were surprised how much the scales changed in just three weeks," Beckman said. "I would have expected it to take more time."

The exercises begin with deep breathing, and then breathing exercises designed to start laughter. Humor is not relied on, nor needed, to get the fun started.

"Even if you start laughing for non-humorous reasons, watching others laugh can make you laugh even more," Beckman said.

The study began after Regier met Judy Young, the owner of Laughter Links, at a career fair.

At that time, Young had an idea that laughter could positively affect businesses. But she had no scientific proof.

Regier immediately thought of his work with self efficacy testing, and began to pursue studying the effects of laughter.

The study at Prairie View is finished, but the organization maintains two laughter groups for employees. Regier and Beckman are working with a local retirement home to start a laughter group there for employees, residents and community members.

"What could this do for residents and staff there?" Regier said. "We'll just see."

To reach the wornderful folks at Prairie View

Our sincere appreciation to The Kansas for their expressed consent in allowing us to publish their article in full.

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