Humor in professional care - promoting mental health

HumorAgenda

Humor in professional care - promoting mental health

To what extent can (consciously used) humor increase a better communication and a better way to deal with daily challenges at the work life of caregivers? What (health) benefits does humor also promote for the elderly residents of nursing homes? This project analysis possible improvements of psychological well-being and social interactions (working climate) in nursing homes through humor trainings for caregivers and clown visits for elderly residents.

Main research: Evaluation of humor interventions in the working context
Keywords: humor, humor trainings, clown visits, professional care, nursing, well-being, social interaction, working climate, social identity, training evaluation
Duration: 08/01/2022 - 07/31/2025
University institution: Department of Work and Organizational Psychology

Description

Within three years, regular humor trainings for care workers and clown visits for elderly residents take place in three selected nursing facilities (+ one control facility) in Saxony and Thuringia. There caregivers and residents are questioned quantitative before the intervention (2022), at yearly intervals (2023 and 2024) and at the end of the project (2025). Standardized measuring instruments capture social interactions (working climate) between caregivers, their psychosocial health and their attitude towards clown visits. Cognitive and psychosocial functions of elderly residents in everyday situations and their well-being are also measured. After visits, clowns are asked to assess the contact to the residents. Caregivers participating in humor seminars are questioned additionally before and after these interventions. The collected data will be used to examine whether humor trainings for staff and clown visits for elderly residents improve psychosocial well-being and social interactions.