The Effects of a Humor Intervention on the Physiological, Physical, and Psychological Responses of School-aged Children With Atopic Dermatitis in South Korea: A Pilot Study

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.