Service
Information for
About JCCM
Links
Stress-moderating effects of positive emotions:exposure to humorous movies during hemodialytic sessions decreases blood levels of stress hormones
- Mario Bertini1，Luca Iani1，Rosa Maria De Santo1，Carlotta Scaramuzzi1，Luigi Petramala2，Dario Cotesta2，Marzia Pasquali3，Sandro Mazzaferro3，Claudio Letizia2 1Department of Psychology,2Department of Clinical Sciences,Internal Medicine,3Department of Clinical Sciences,Nephrology,“Sapienza”,University,Rome,Italy Correspondence to Prof.Claudio Letizia,Department of Clinical Sciences,Internal Medicine,“Sapienza”,University,Rome,Italy E-mail：claudio.letizia@uniroma1.it
[Abstract]Objective Although Selye had indicated the relevance of the eustress dimension,scientific interest in the psychobiological and clinical aspects of distress has largely been dominant.In recent years there has been an increased interest in the use of humor in patient care.To contribute in this area,the present study is designed to show the stress moderating effect of the positive emotion of humor during hemodialytic treatment in renal patients. Methods Nine patients were studied in three sessions at the same time of day.In the first baseline session (BS),adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),beta-endorphin and cortisol were measured through four different blood samplings from pre-to post-hemodialytic treatment.The two following experimental sessions (ES1,ES2) were performed identically to BS except for the presentation of two different humorous videos during hemodialytic treatment. Results A two-way repeated measure ANOVA Session by Time was carried out for each dependent variable.This revealed a reduction of the stressogenic responses due to viewing the humorous material.The expected interactions were highly significant for all the dependent variables considered (ACTH:F= 4.37,P<0.001;Cortisol:F=5.93,P<0.0001;beta-endorphin:F=6.47,P<0.00004). Conclusion The results support our hypothesis that the viewing of a humorous video modifies the pattern of the stress hormone response.These findings appear relevant for basic research in positive emotions and for their possible application in a clinical setting.
[Document Indexing]
Mario Bertini1，Luca Iani1，Rosa Maria De Santo1，Carlotta Scaramuzzi1，Luigi Petramala2，Dario Cotesta2，Marzia Pasquali3，Sandro Mazzaferro3，Claudio Letizia2.Stress-moderating effects of positive emotions:exposure to humorous movies during hemodialytic sessions decreases blood levels of stress hormones.Journal of Chinese Clinical Medicine,2010,5(2):61-70.
[Reference Document]
1. Selye H.Stress in health and disease.Boston:Butterworth,1974.
2. Wild B,Rodden FA,Grodd W,Ruch W.Neural correlates of laughter and humor.Brain,2003,126:2121-2138.
3. Ozawa F,Matsuo K,Kato C,Nakai T,Isoda H,Takemara Y,et al.The effects of listening comprehension of various genres of literature on response in the linguistic area:an fMRI study.Neuroreport,2000,11:1141-1143.
4. Goel V,Dolan RJ.The functional anatomy of humor:segregating cognitive and affective components.Nat Neurosci,2001,4:237-238.
5. Iwase M,Ouchi Y,Okada H,Yokoyama C,Nobezawa S,Yoshikawa E,et al.Neural substrates of human facial expression of pleasant emotion induced by comic films:a PET study.Neuroimage,2002,17:758-768.
6. Dillon KM,Minchoff B,Baker KH.Positive emotional states and enhancement of the immune system.Int J Psychiatry Med,1985,15:13-18.
7. Martin RA,Dobbin JP.Sense of humor,hassles,and immune globulin A:Evidence for a stress-moderating effect of humor.Int J Psychiatry Med,1988,18:93-105.
8. Buchanan TW,al’Absi M,Lovallo WR.Cortisol fluctuates with increases and decreases in negative affect.Psychoneuroendocrinology,1999,24:227-241.
9. Berk LS,Tan SA,Fry WF,Napier BJ,Lee JW,Hubbard RW,Lewis JE,Eby WC.Neuroendocrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter.Am J Med Sci,1989,298:390-396.
10. Berk LS,Tan SA,Nehlsen-Cannarella SL,Napier B,Lewis JE,Lee JW,Eby WC.Humor associated laughter decreases cortisol and increases spontaneous lymphocyte blastogenesis.Clin Res,1988,36:435A.
11. Mittwoch-Jaffe T,Shalit F,Srendi B,Yehuda S.Modification of cytokine secretion following mild emotional stimuli.Neuroreport,1995,6:789-792.
12. Martin RA,Lefcourt HM.Sense of Humor as a Moderator of the Relation between Stressors and Moods.J Per Soc Psychol,1983,54:1313-1324.
13. Berk L,Tan S,Fry W.Eustress of Humor Associated Laughter Modulates Specific Immune System Components.Ann Behav Med,1993,15(Supplement):S111.
14. Tan SA,Tan LG,Berk LS,Lukman ST,Lukman LF.Mirthful Laughter,An Effective Adjunct in Cardiac Rehabilitation.Can J Cardiol,1997,13:190B.
15. Berk L,Bittman B,Tan S,Westengard J.A Video Presentation of Music,Nature’s Imagery and Positive Affirmations as a Combined Eustress Paradigm Modulates Neuroendocrine Hormones.Ann Behav Med,1997,19:201.
16. Berk LS,Felten DL,Tan SA,Bittman BB,Westengard J.Modulation of neuroimmune parameters during the eustress of humor-associated mirthful laughter.Altern Ther Health Med,2001,7:62-76.
17. Takahashi K,Iwase M,Yamashita K,Tatsumoto Y,Ue H,Kuratsun H,Shimizu A,Takeda M.The elevation of natural killer cell activity induced by laughter in a crossover designed study.Int J Mol Med,2001,8:645-650.
18. Bennett MP,Zeller JM,Rosemberg L,McCann J.The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer cell activity.Altern Ther Health Med,2003,9:38-45.
19. Martin RA.Humor,laughter and physical health:methodological issues and research findings.Psychol Bull,2001,127:504-519.
20. Bennett MP,Lengacher CA.Humor and laughter may influence health:Laughter and health outcomes.Evid.Based Complement Alternat.Med,2007,doi:10.1093/ecam/nem041.
21. Letizia C,Mazzaferro S,De Ciocchis A,Cerci S,Morabito S,Cinotti GA,Scavo D.Effects of hemodialysis session on plasma beta-endorphin,ACTH,and cortisol in patients with end-stage renal disease.Scand J Urol Nephrol,1996,30:399-402.
22. Caruso U,Lezoche E,Mariani P,Elli M,Tisone G,Cravotto E,Cascinai CU.Plasma levels of beta-endorphin in uraemic patients during hemodialysis.Int J Clin Pharmacol Res,1988,8:17-20.
23. N’Gankam V,Uehlinger D,Dick B,Frey BM,Frey FJ:Increased cortisol metabolites and reduced activity of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid deidrogenase in patients on hemodialysis.Kidney Int,2002,61:1859-1866.
24. Fredrickson,BL.What good are positive emotions?Rev Gen Psychol,1998,2:300-319.
