Laughter and Short-Term Blood Pressure Reactivity in Middle-Aged and Older Adult Spousal Support Interactions

Abstract

Objective: Theories suggest that laughter decreases negative affect and enhances social bonds; however, no studies have examined the benefits of laughter on stress biomarkers in dyads. This study examined the hypotheses that individual and shared laughter would be associated with lower blood pressure reactivity and decreased self-reported and perceived partner distress for the target and spouse in a social support interaction. Method: One hundred seventy-three middle-aged and older adult couples from a larger study were video-recorded, and their blood pressure was monitored continuously in the laboratory during a resting baseline, during a social support interaction in which they discussed a target’s fear related to aging, and while playing a game (used as a comparison). Both partners self-reported their own and perceived partner distress after the support interaction. Laughter behavior was coded using the Facial Action Coding System criteria. Results: According to Actor Partner Interdependence Models, during the support interaction, the more the target laughed, the lower the spouse’s systolic blood pressure was (partner effect). Also, greater laughter was associated with less self-reported and perceived partner distress for targets and spouses (actor effects). There were no other significant associations between individual laughter, shared laughter, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and distress. Models controlled for gender, marital satisfaction, baseline blood pressure, and the target’s baseline distress rating of their fear. Conclusions: In social support interactions, targets’ laughter may have short-term blood pressure benefits for caregiving spouses and distress reducing benefits for both spouses.