The Effectiveness of Humor Training on Social Phobia Symptoms

Subject Areas : Clinical psychology

Leila Sadat Mirseifi Fard ¹ (MA in General Psychology Islamic Azad University Kashan Branch, Iran)
Nooshin Fatollahzadeh ² (MA in clinical Psychology Islamic Azad University Rodehen Branch, Iran)
Mehdi Rostami ³ (PhD Candidate of counseling Islamic Azad University Branch Science and Research Tehran, Iran)
Seyed Ali Darbani ⁴ (PhD Candidate of Counseling Islamic Azad University Branch Science and Research Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2017-12-10 Accepted : 2017-12-10 Published : 2017-09-23

Keywords: Social phobia, training humor,

Abstract :

In the present study, the effectiveness of humor training on reducing social phobia symptoms in students was examined. The research method was quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design with control group and follow-up in 2 months. From a population of male students attending an education counseling center, after  preliminary interviews, 30 students who had higher score (according to standard clinical cut-off point) in Social Phobia Inventory (Connor et al, 2001) were selected. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental (n =15) and control (n =15) group. The experimental group received humor Training (McGhee, 2004) for 8 consecutive weeks in 80 minutes and the control group received no training in this period. The analysis of variance with repeated measures was done for analyzing the pretest, posttest and follow-up data. The results showed that humor training can lead to a reduction in the total score of social phobia and also its subscales such as fear, avoidance, and physiological discomfort. Additionally, the stability in the post-test scores at the follow-up stage was found

References:

انجمن روان‎پزشکی امریکا. (1393). راهنمای تشخیصی و آماری اختلالات روانی (ویراست پنجم). ترجمۀ ی. سیدمحمدی. تهران: نشر روان (تاریخ انتشار اثر اصلی، 2013).

به‌پژوه، ا.، جهانگیری، م. و زهراکار، ک. (1389). آموزش مهارت‌های شوخ‌طبعی و کاهش افسردگی در بیماران آسیب نخاعی. فصلنامۀ روان‌شناسی تحولی: روان‌شناسان ایرانی، 6 (23)، 227-236.

رستم‌بیگی، پ.، روشندل، ا.، صفوی، م. و مالمیر، م. ش. (1390). تأثیر آموزش شوخ‌طبعی بر سطح اضطراب دانشجویان پرستاری. فصلنامۀ دانشگاه علوم پزشکی لرستان، دانشکدۀ پرستاری و مامایی (افلاک)، 7 (23 و 23)، 26-35.

حسنوند‌عموزاده، م. (1393). هنجاریابی سیاهۀ فوبی اجتماعی (SPIN) در نمونۀ غیربالینی ایرانی. مجلۀ پزشکی ارومیه، 1 (11)، 17-29.

عباسی، س. و عبدی، م. (1393). تأثیر آموزش حس شوخ‌طبعی بر کاهش اضطراب و بهبود عملکرد خانوادۀ زنان متأهل خانه‌دار. پایان‌نامۀ کارشناسی ارشد مشاوره، دانشکدۀ روان‌شناسی و مشاوره، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد خمین.

عبدی، م. (1382). سوگیری تعبیر در افراد مبتلا به هراس اجتماعی. پایان‌نامه کارشناسی ارشد روان‌شناسی بالینی، انستیتو روان‌پزشکی تهران.

عریضی، ح .ر.، دانشمند، س. و عابدی، ا. (1394). فراتحلیل اثربخشی مداخله‌های گروهی در اختلال اضطراب اجتماعی. فصلنامۀ روان‎شناسی تحولی: روان‎شناسان ایرانی، 12(46)، 121-140.

فتحی‎آشتیانی، ع. (1388). آزمون‌های روان‎شناختی: ارزشیابی شخصیت و سلامت روانی. تهران: انتشارات بعثت.

Bennet, M., & Lengacher, C. (2006). Humor and laughter may influence health: II complementary therapies and humor in clinical population. Tried Based Complement Alternate Med, 3(2), 187-190.

Browin, B., & Stein, D. J. (2004). Social Anxietydisorder. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc.

Cai, C., Yu, L., Rong, L., & Zhong, H. (2014). Effectiveness of humor intervention for patients with schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 59, 174-178.

Connor, K. M., Davidson, J., Churchill, L., Sherwood, A., Foa, E., & Wesler, R. H.  (2001). Psychometric properties of social phobia inventory (SPIN). British Journal of Psychiatry, 5 (76), 379-386.

Comer, R. J. (2009). Abnormal psychology. New York: Princeton University.

Chauvet, S., & Hof Meyer, A. (2007). Humor as a facilitative style in problem based learning environment for nursing student. Nursing Education Today, 2 (27), 263-282.

Erikson, S. J., & Feldstein, S. W. (2006). Adolescent humor and its relationship coping defense strategies, psychological distress and wellbeing. Child Psychological and Human Development, 3 (37), 250 -270.

Furer, P., & Walker, J. (2008). Death anxiety: A cognitive-behavioral approach. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 22(2), 167-182.

Garner, R. (2005). Humor in pedagogy: How ha-ha can lead toaha! College teaching: Sam Houston State University.

Heimberg, R. G. (2002). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder: Current status and future directions. Biological Psychiatry, 51, 101-108.

Hickman, G., & Crosland, G. L. (2005). The predictive nature of humor, authorial tide style, and academic achievement an indices of initial adjustment and commitment. Journal of College Student Retention Research Theory and Practice, 1 (6), 225-245.

Kuiper, N. A., Klein D., Vertes, J., & Maiolino, N. B. (2014). Humor Styles and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Model of Generalized Anxiety. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 143(4), 4359-376.

Lampe, L. A. (2009). Social anxiety disorder: Recent developments in psychological approaches to conceptualization and treatment. Australian and New Zealand: Journalof Psychiatry, 43(21), 887-898.

Lovorn, M. (2008). Humor in the home and in the classroom. The benefits of laughing while we learn. Journal of Education and Human Development, 4 (1), 700-712.

Mcghee, P. E., Nahemow, L., & McCluskey-Fawcett K. A. (2013). Humor and aging. Publication: Academic Press.

McGhee, P. E. (2004). The Laughter Remedy: Health, Healing, and the Amuse System. Randolph, NJ: The Laughter Remedy.

Martin, R. A. (2007). The psychology of humor: An integrative approach (Chapter 1 and 7) Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press.

Martin, R. A., & Lefcourt, H. M. (2009). Sense of humor as a moderator of the relation between stressors and moods. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45(6), 1313-1324.

Miller, D. M. (2008). The correlation between sense of humor and mental health. PhD thesis. Missouri Western State University (MWSU).

Nabi, R. L. (2016). Laughing in the Face of Fear (of Disease Detection): Using Humor to Promote Cancer Self-Examination Behavior. Journal Health Communication, 31 (7), 873-883.

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2009). Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 9th Edition. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Seo, J., & Na, H. (2015). A Content Analysis of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses' Experience of Using Humor. Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse, 24(2), 93-106.

Ulloth, J. K. (2012). The benefits of humor in nursing education. Journal of Nursing, 41 (11), 476-482.

Vagnoli, L., Caprilli, S., & Messeri, A. (2010). Parental presence, clowns or sedative premedication to treat preoperative anxiety in children: What could be the most promising option? Pediatric Anesthesia, 20 (10), 937-943.

Yoon, H. J. (2015). Humor effects in shame-inducing health issue advertising: The moderating effects of fear of negative evaluation. Journal of Advertising, 44 (2), 126-139.