By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.
In today’s Research News article “Mindfulness Interfused with Humor: Insights From a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Humor-Enriched Mindfulness-Based Program” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11785597/ ) Kastner examined the effects of mindfulness training (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; MBSR) either alone or mixed with humor on participants well-being. They found that whether mixed with humor or not, mindfulness training reduced perceived stress and increased psychological well-being and life satisfaction.
So, mindfulness improves the psychological state of normal adults.
CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies
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Study Summary
Kastner CT. Mindfulness Interfused with Humor: Insights From a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Humor-Enriched Mindfulness-Based Program. Mindfulness (N Y). 2025;16(1):186-204. doi: 10.1007/s12671-024-02491-7. Epub 2025 Jan 6. PMID: 39898273; PMCID: PMC11785597.
Abstract
Objectives
Both mindfulness and humor are inherently connected to well-being. Recent research found evidence for their combined effect in a joint training, the Humor-Enriched Mindfulness-Based Program (HEMBP). This study extends these findings by exploring (1) effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on different forms of humor, (2) differential effects of the HEMBP on outcomes compared to MBSR, and (3) whether the HEMBP and MBSR may alter worldviews.
Method
Ninety participants were randomly allocated to three conditions: the HEMBP, MBSR, and a wait-list control group. Participants’ mindfulness, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, perceived stress, comic styles, and primal world beliefs (primals) were assessed before and after the trainings, and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Changes in outcome variables over time were modeled by applying linear mixed-effects models.
Results
The HEMBP enhanced participants’ mindfulness, benevolent humor, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction compared to the wait-list control. Similarly, MBSR increased participants’ mindfulness and life satisfaction while reducing perceived stress and primal good, but no effects on humor were observed. Comparison between the two trainings revealed trends toward a greater increase in benevolent humor in the HEMBP group and a greater decrease in good in the MBSR group.
Conclusion
The results largely replicate previous research on the efficacy of the HEMBP. Both programs demonstrated similar effects on outcomes, with only the HEMBP increasing benevolent humor and psychological well-being, while MBSR reduced stress. Further research is needed to investigate qualitative aspects of the integration of humor in MBPs and the long-term impact of MBPs on individuals’ worldviews.