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Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/IJNNR-RA-25-001

The Psychotherapeutic Value of Laughter: A Qualitative Investigation into Emotional, Cognitive, and Social Outcomes

Vivek Kotekar *

(Counselling Psychology), M.A. (Industrial Psychology),SET, NET, GATE, Ph.D. in Psychology,India.

*Corresponding Author: Vivek Kotekar, (Counselling Psychology), M.A. (Industrial Psychology), SET, NET, GATE, Ph.D. in Psychology, India.

Citation: Vivek Kotekar (2025). The Psychotherapeutic Value of Laughter: A Qualitative Investigation into Emotional, Cognitive, and Social Outcomes, J International Neurology and Neurological Research. 1(1) 01, DOI: IJNNR-RA-25-001.

Copyright: Vivek Kotekar, et al © (2025). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Received: 05 May 2025 | Accepted: 12 May 2025 | Published: 28 May 2025

Keywords: laughter therapy; mental health; thematic analysis; emotional regulation; stress; qualitative research

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the impact of laughter therapy on mental health, with specific objectives to examine emotional, cognitive, and social changes, and to reflect on its role in stress management. The research adopted a reflexive thematic analysis framework within a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm, emphasizing co-constructed meaning and subjective experience. A purposive sample of 10 adults (aged 30–55) was recruited from a wellness center in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Participants reported mild to moderate psychological distress but were not receiving psychiatric treatment. They participated in a structured laughter therapy program comprising eight sessions over four weeks, facilitated by a certified therapist. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, demographic surveys, and field observations. Interviews were conducted pre- and post-intervention in Hindi or Marathi, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase reflexive thematic analysis approach. Six core themes emerged: Emotional Catharsis, Mood Elevation, Enhanced Coping Skills, Social Bonding, Cognitive Reframing, and Physical Relaxation. These themes reflected the multidimensional benefits of laughter therapy on participants’ emotional expression, resilience, relationships, and stress relief. Findings highlight laughter therapy as a promising, low-cost intervention for enhancing mental health. It holds potential as a complementary therapeutic tool in both clinical and community-based mental health settings.

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