title: The effects of humor on secretory immunoglobulin A levels in school-aged children.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory