Positive Emotional States and Enhancement of the Immune System
- 1 March 1986
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
- Vol. 15 (1) , 13-18
- https://doi.org/10.2190/r7fd-urn9-pq7f-a6j7
Abstract
Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration increased significantly after subjects viewed a humorous videotape and did not change significantly after they viewed a didactic videotape. Scores on a questionnaire measuring the perceived use of humor as a coping skill were positively related to initial IgA concentration and inversely related to changes in IgA concentration after subjects' viewing of the humorous videotape, which implies a ceiling effect. Enhancement of the immune system may be one link between anecdotal claims of relationships between an individual's being in a positive emotional state and healing.Keywords
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