Effect of Humor Training on Depression in Nursing Students

Depression is one of the critical health problems with increasing prevalence rates. Today, psychologists have found that there are hidden abilities in human- beings that can control mental diseases. One of these abilities is sense of humor. The purpose of this study was to determine humor training effects on depression of nursing students of Islamic Azad University of Estahban. This is an experimental study in which 195 nursing students of Islamic Azad University of Estahban were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control group. Data were collected using McGhee’s humor questionnaire with 24 questions, depression scale from Goldberg and Hiller’s general health questionnaire and a form including demographic data before and after humor training. Content validity method was used for determining the validity of the tools and Humor training class was held up for experimental group in 4 sessions each 3 hours. Data was analyzed by SPSS 14 software using descriptive and inferential statistics. In pretest, mean humor score was 125.3±24.71 in experimental group and 120±19.43 in control group and mean depression score was 9.49±3.25 in experimental group and 10.21±3.49 in control group. In posttest mean humor score was 144.6±11/50 in experimental group and 119.91±19.57 in control group and mean depression score was 7.83±1.52 in experimental group and 10.24±3.2 in control group. Comparing the score of experimental and control group's pre- test and post- test showed a meaningful difference between humor scores (P=0.01). Also, there was meaningful statistical differences between two groups in depression scale (P<0.01). Humor training has effects on the depression of nursing students of Islamic Azad University of Estahban. So humor training with comprehensive planning and utilization of modern educational methods can increase the awareness and interest of people towards humor and can be a proper way for prevention of depression.