Laughing During Conversations, But Not in Response to Digital Media, Is Associated With Less Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Social Withdrawal: A Cross‐Sectional Study of German Adults in 2023

Abstract

A higher frequency of laughter was associated with lower levels of loneliness, social isolation, and social withdrawal. Laughing while having conversations with people and attending cultural events were associated with more social integration, whereas laughing while consuming digital media was not significantly associated with any outcomes. These findings suggest that laughter could help reinforce social connections and help address the challenges of loneliness, but these associations need further testing with interventions and longitudinal research.