Use Laughter More in Parenting, Study says

By Oluwasola Samuel, Freelance Writer. Medical and editorial review by The DLHA Team

A smiling and happy looking African family of four with two young children. Image credit: Moja Afryka

Laughing with your children is a powerful gesture that strengthens the bond between you and them. Parenting can be overwhelming, but guess what? Incorporating laughter in your parenting journey can also be a fulfilling experience. 

Yes, laughter isn’t just about having fun or relieving stress; it’s a powerful gesture that can strengthen parent-child relationships in many ways.  

From the moment a child is born, the child looks up to you for cues on figuring out the world. Laughing with your child is a good way of teaching and bonding. The good thing is that laughter is a universal language; it needs no translation.

To help understand the role that laughter plays in parenting, we examine the findings of a self-reported, questionnaire based survey on the use of humour in parenting, published recently in PLOS ONE.

But what is humour?

The Britannica, defines humour simply as “as a type of stimulation that tends to elicit the laughter reflex”. It goes on to say that the sole function of laughter is the relief of tension.

In effect, humour provides amusement that provokes laughter, which in turn relieves tension.

When humour is seen within the context of amusement, laughter, relief of tension and harmony, the survey findings would not be so surprising.

The Study

The survey engaged 312 participants. Most participants were male (63.6%) and white (76.6%). They were also between the ages of 18 and 45.

The participants were asked about their experiences growing up and the impact of humour on their upbringing. Their responses were then divided into three subgroups: disagree, indeterminate, and agree. These categories were then critically examined using common statistical methods to identify trends and correlations.

Findings

More than half of the participants (55.2%) claimed that their parents or guardians used humour in their parenting. 

About 71.8% believe that humour can be an effective tool in parenting, with 63.3% believing that humour has more benefits than drawbacks. 

A good number of the participants (61.8%) either currently use or plan to use humour in raising their children. 

About 69.7% of participants showed great interest in taking a course on incorporating humour into the parenting of their children.

The results from the survey point to the fact that humour is not only a common gesture used in parenting but also one that is valued by many. Participants raised with humour generally had better relationships with their parents and had a favourable upbringing.

Benefits of Laughter

The above survey shows the impact that humour induced laughter has in our daily lives.  Laughter is a natural stress reliever; it helps to reduce the tension that often builds up in everyday life. [2]

As a parent, stress can sometimes affect your mood and patience, but laughter can help lighten it. [3] When you laugh, your body releases feel-good hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins in your brain. [4] These hormones help to reduce cortisol levels in your body. [5] These feel-good hormones improve your mood and make you feel more relaxed.

Incorporating laughter into your daily routine doesn’t require a lot of effort. It can be as simple as enjoying a funny video with your child, telling jokes, or even just being silly with your child.

Laughter doesn’t benefit you alone; it also benefits your child. Children often sense their parents’ moods. When they see you laughing and enjoying yourself, it reassures them that everything is okay. They feel safe around you; this feeling is crucial for their emotional development and mental health. [6]

Laughter helps children learn social skills and understand emotions. It also helps them develop social and emotional bonding. All these are key to building resilience and a positive outlook.

The benefits of laughter go beyond the immediate moment of joy. Over time, it builds a strong foundation of trust and communication. At this point, your child is more likely to share his or her thoughts, feelings, and physical and emotional issues with you.

Wrap up

As a parent or guardian, you should remember that parenting isn't just about taking care of your child's physical needs; it's also about supporting their emotional needs and creating a happy, loving environment where your child feels safe and supported. This feeling of safety helps to improve their emotional growth and overall well-being.

Laughter helps your relationship with your child in the long run. It strengthens the bond between you and your child, even when things get bumpy during the wild teenage years.

In conclusion, laughter is a great tool for developing a strong parent-child bond. It helps your kid grow up happier and makes life easier for both of you. When you laugh together, you create a home that feels safe, loved, and supportive - the perfect place for your kid to thrive. So, next time parenting feels like a rollercoaster, lighten the mood with a good laugh. It’s the best decision and medicine for you and your children.

Sources:

1. Emery L, Libera A, Lehman E, Levi BH. Humor in parenting: Does it have a role? PLOS ONE. 2024 Jul 17, 9(7):e0306311. Available from here.

2. Medlineplus [Internet]. Bethesda MD. National Library of Medicine, US. Stress and your health. Reviewed 2022 April 30. [Cited 2024 Aug 21]. Available from here.

3. Mayo Clinic. Stress relief from laughter? It’s no joke [Internet]. 2023 Sept. 22. [Cited 2024 Aug 21]. Available here.

4. Akimbekov NS, Razzaque MS. Laughter therapy: A humor-induced hormonal intervention to reduce stress and anxiety. Curr Res Physiol. 2021;4:135-138. doi: 10.1016/j.crphys.2021.04.002. Available from here.

5. Mayo Clinic. Chronic stress puts your health at risk [Internet].  2023 April 1. [Cited 2024 Aug 21]. Available from here.

Yim J. Therapeutic benefits of laughter in mental health: A theoretical review. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2016 Jul;239(3):243-9. doi: 10.1620/tjem.239.243. Available from here.

Published: August 29, 2024

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