Effect of Humor on Nutrition Intake Children and Adolescent in 'Mabarrot' Dormitory Yogyakarta Indonesia

Abstract

Background: One of the causes of nutritional problems among children and adolescents is stress experience. Stress can cause a person to lose their appetite that leads to reduced food intake. Using humor as a stress reliever is an emotional coping mechanism that can be done to mitigate some of negative emotional reactions. Humor can be used as a tool in the prevention and treatment of stress-related diseases through increasing food intake.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of humor therapy to increase food intake of study participants in ‘Mabarrot' dormitory.

Material and method: Data collection was performed using a 24-hour food recall questionnaire at three different times: following a humor therapy, one day after the humor therapy, and two days after the therapy. The study participants were given the regular daily meals. Data was analyzed using non-parametric Wilcox on test.

Results: Food intakes for daily meals increased among children and adolescent with sense of humor (p<0.05). However, among boys there was no increased in food intakes. Meanwhile, among the girls with sense of humor, food intakes increased significantly (p<0.05). For those groups with medium and high sense of humors, there was an increased in food intakes significantly (p<0.05).

Conclusion: There is an impact of humor therapy in increasing food intakes among children and adolescents in ‘Mabarrot' dormitory.