The Acute Effects of Humor and Exercise on Mood and Anxiety

Bibliographic Data

ID10137967
AuthorsAttila Szabó (0000-0001-7833-8894, The Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom, corresponding author)
Year2003
Volume35
Issue2
Pages152-162
Publication date2003-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Leisure Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-2216 • E-ISSN: 2159-6417
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00222216.2003.11949988
OpenAlexW120682547
LanguageEN
Citations received34
References cited24

The hypothesis that 20-minutes of humor would result in affective benefits that are comparable to those of a 20-minute bout of aerobic exercise was scrutinized by using a within-participants research design. Thirty-nine university students were tested, at weekly intervals, three times: running/jogging at self-selected pace, watching a humorous stand-up comedy, and watching a documentary video. Mood and state anxiety were determined 5-minutes before and after each treatment by using the Subjective Exercise Experience Scale (McAuley & Cour-neya, 1994) and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Luchene, 1970). Both humor and exercise had an equally positive effect on psychological distress and positive well-being. However, humor exerted greater anxiety-lowering effect than exercise. Based on these results, it is tentatively concluded that humor could induce positive psychological changes that are at least comparable if not superior to the effects of exercise.KEYWORDS: Anxietyexercisehealthhumormood

Anxiety · Mood · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Humor Studies and Applications · Psychology · Social Psychology

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