Laughter-inducing Interventions for Workplace Stress Management: A Scoping Review

Mental health at work is a public health priority. Previous studies in the general population suggest that laughter-inducing interventions may support mental health. Their workplace potential warrants a scoping review. The aim of this study was to document, in the literature, the components and effectiveness of laughter-inducing interventions in the workplace.

A structured search strategy was applied to 6 databases. Studies assessing laughter-inducing interventions among workers using interventional designs were included. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data and appraised studies using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. Thematic analysis was performed to answer the research questions.

Out of the 613 records identified, twenty-five studies were included with samples of varying sizes (n = 7-200 participants) and professions. Laughter-inducing interventions included introduction (background, rationale) (n = 7), laughter exercises (n = 19), breathing (n = 15), warm-up (n = 10), chanting (n = 8), relaxation (n = 7), movements (n = 6), games (n = 3), and expression of feelings or feedback (n = 4). Intervention formats varied in sessions (1-28), duration (10-90 min), frequency (daily to monthly), and length (1-90 days). The most frequently investigated outcome was stress (n = 16) with results generally statistically significant (n = 12). There was a paucity of data informing the implementation process. The quality appraisal revealed poor quality with risks of selection and/or confounding bias (n = 17/17 among nonrandomized studies) and risks of information and/or selection bias (n = 5/6 in randomized studies).

While findings suggest that laughter-inducing interventions may be promising for reducing workplace stress, most included studies were of poor methodological quality, warranting cautious interpretation. Further research is needed due to methodological heterogeneity and limitations.