The Association between Laughter and Functional Dyspepsia in a Young Japanese Population

Yasunori Yamamoto, Shinya Furukawa, Aki Kato, Katsunori Kusumoto, Teruki Miyake, Eiji Takeshita, Yoshio Ikeda, Naofumi Yamamoto, Katsutoshi Okada, Yuka Saeki and Yoichi Hiasa
Additional contact information
Yasunori Yamamoto: Endoscopy Center, Ehime University Hospital, Toon 791-0295, Ehime, Japan
Shinya Furukawa: Health Services Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Ehime, Japan
Aki Kato: Health Services Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Ehime, Japan
Katsunori Kusumoto: Health Services Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Ehime, Japan
Teruki Miyake: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Shitsukawa, Toon 791-0295, Ehime, Japan
Eiji Takeshita: Department of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Matsuyama 791-0295, Ehime, Japan
Yoshio Ikeda: Endoscopy Center, Ehime University Hospital, Toon 791-0295, Ehime, Japan
Naofumi Yamamoto: Faculty of Collaborative Regional Innovation, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Ehime, Japan
Katsutoshi Okada: Shikokuchuo Public Health Center, Shikokuchuo 799-0404, Ehime, Japan
Yuka Saeki: Health Services Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Ehime, Japan
Yoichi Hiasa: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Shitsukawa, Toon 791-0295, Ehime, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: The potential health benefits of laughter are recognized in relation to several chronic diseases. However, no study has yet investigated the association between laughter and functional dyspepsia (FD). The purpose of this study was to investigate this issue in a young Japanese population. Methods: This study was conducted on 8923 Japanese university students. Information on the frequency of laughter and types of laughter-inducing situations, digestive symptoms (Rome III criteria) were obtained through a self-administered, web-based questionnaire. Results: The percentage of respondents who laughed out loud almost every day was 64.3%. On the other hand, 1.8% of the subjects reported that they rarely laughed. No association was found between the total frequency of laughter and FD. Laughing while talking with family and friends almost every day was significantly inversely associated with FD (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28–0.81); p for trend was 0.003). On the other hand, laughing while watching TV or videos and laughing while looking at comics or magazines independently showed a positive correlation with FD (TV or videos: adjusted OR, 1–5 times a week: 1.74 (95% CI: 1.16–2.60); comics or magazines: adjusted OR, 1–5 times a week: 1.78 (95% CI: 1.08–2.81)). Conclusion: In this young Japanese population, no association between laughter frequency and FD was observed although laughing while talking with friends and family was independently and inversely associated with FD.

Keywords: laughter; friends; functional dyspepsia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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