Purpose: We examined the effects of a humor intervention on the physiological, physical, and psychological responses of school-aged children with atopic dermatitis.
Design and methods: This quasi-experimental study used a nonequivalent control group and a pre- and post-test design. Forty-five schoolchildren participated.
Results: Children in the experimental group (n=26) received a humor intervention and reported significant differences in physiological response, which was evidenced by heightened salivary immunoglobulin A levels as compared to the control group (n=19). Additionally, the psychological response of the experimental group was significantly different from that of the control group as evidenced by decreased stress levels.
Conclusion: Humor intervention may be an effective nursing intervention for children with atopic dermatitis.
Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Children; Laughter therapy; Physical; Physiological; Psychological.
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