Improving physiology with improv

A growing body of research suggests that improvisational theatre can have a positive impact on individuals’ well-being by promoting emotional expression, social connection and personal insight. Similarly, exposure to humour has been shown to confer some benefits to mental and physical health. Most studies have focused on passive exposure to humour or the induction of laughter. Improvisational comedy, which involves active group participation in humour creation, offers a unique opportunity to combine some of the therapeutic elements of both improvisational theatre and humour. Twenty-eight adults participated in a weekly improv comedy course delivered via Zoom and had their physiology and emotional states monitored. Participants wore Oura rings designed to measure physiological states continuously starting two weeks before the onset of improv classes to establish a baseline and throughout the six-week duration of the course. Emotional states were measured using self-report questionnaires. The study utilized a single-group design, so comparisons were within-subject. Participants self-reported increased feelings of creativity, connectedness, energy and empowerment after each class and a decrease in feeling tired and lonely. Oura rings’ data showed improvement in sleep quality and physical activity levels. Improvements in sleep quality were greater for older adults.