title: Effect of workplace laughter groups on personal efficacy beliefs.
abstract: This study measured the impact of a purposeful aerobic laughter intervention on employees' sense of self-efficacy in the workplace. Participants were 33 employees of a behavioral health center. They met for 15-minute sessions on 15 consecutive workdays and engaged in a guided program of non-humor dependent laughter. The primary outcome measure was the Capabilities Awareness Profile, a self-report self-efficacy questionnaire. Employees demonstrated a significant increase in several different aspects of self-efficacy, including self-regulation, optimism, positive emotions, and social identification, and they maintained these gains at follow-up. Purposeful laughter is a realistic, sustainable, and generalizable intervention that enhances employees' morale, resilience, and personal efficacy beliefs.
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology Department, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI 53792-2424, USA. ht.beckman@hosp.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beckman
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Regier
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D027641:Laughter Therapy; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace