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Modern man laughs 3 times less than he did 50 years ago
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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According to psychologists, 5 minutes of laughter a day is not enough to feel good, writes Rossella Burattino in an article published in the newspaper Corriere della Sera.
"Healthy, encouraging, free laughter has a beneficial effect not only on the soul, but also on the entire body. 50 years ago we laughed for 15 minutes a day, now this time has been reduced to 5 minutes. The experts at the Riza Institute of Psychosomatic Medicine have no doubt: a daily dose of good mood should be at least half an hour. The benefits? Stress is reduced, sleep improves. The heart, liver and lungs work better when we have fun. Not to mention our morale," the publication writes.
"At the Sorbonne in Paris, you can attend courses on the importance of laughter as a tool for improving society," Burattino continues. "You can also attend classes in 'laughter yoga' (Hasyayoga): this practice combines unconditioned laughter with deep breathing." "Today, millions of people in 75 countries practice it," says Laura Toffolo, founder of the Italian association of 'laughter yoga'. According to Parisian anthropologist Laura Mario, such classes can induce joy and lightness that can last for several days.
"Laughter will save our lives," says Claudio Mencacci, director of the psychological sciences department at Fatebenefratelli in Milan, "this is confirmed by clinical practice: positive people have greater potential to succeed at work and in relationships with others. Laughter stimulates the immune system, releases adrenaline and dopamine. It activates the mechanism for releasing endorphin and enkephalin, our natural "drugs."
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