The Effects of laughter communication programs on college students’ in health and medical field laughter index, self-esteem, and career decision-making self-efficacy

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a laughter communication program on laughter index, self-esteem, and career decision-making self-efficacy for college students majoring in health and medical fields, and to identify the relationship between laughter index, self-esteem, and career decision-making self-efficacy. This study measured general characteristics, laughter index, self-esteem, and career decision -making self-efficacy before applying the laughter communication program to the research subjects using a single-group pre- and post- experimental design, and measured laughter index, self-esteem, and career decision-making self-efficacy after the experimental treatment. The data of a total of 43 people who experienced the laughter communication program (7 sessions of 50 minutes each, a total of 7 hours per day) were analyzed (paired t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient). The laughter communication program, such as peer communication based on laughter, patient communication, positivity training, and being happy in the hospital, had a significant effect on laughter index(t=7.17, p<.001), self-esteem(t=7.20, p<.001), and career decision-making self-efficacy(t=5.89, p<.001), and the laughter index had a statistically significant positive correlation with career decision-making self-efficacy(r=.71, p<.001). Therefore, if you utilize the laughter communication program, it allows for the strengthen mutual communication and provide positive feedback as a health care professional. In addition, since laughter expresses our emotions and strengthens relationships with others, it can play an important role in relieving tension within a group and increasing intimacy, thereby increasing self-esteem and career decision-making self-efficacy. Furthermore, it appears that the laughter communication program can improve psychological safety, which refers to the state of being able to share one's thoughts or opinions in a situation without stress or anxiety.