The Effect of Watching Funny Videos in Reducing Depression

1THE EFFECT OF WATCHING FUNNY VIDEOS IN REDUCING DEPRESSION`

SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITYBayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCESDepartment of Psychology and Guidance

The Effect of Watching Funny Videos in Reducing Depression

REYALYN U. ANTONIO

and

CAROL D. HORNI

BS Psychology & AB Guidance and Counseling 3

A research paper

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the

double degree in BS Psychology and AB Guidance & Counseling


September 2014

Abstract

Depression has already undergone many researches for itranks the top among the other listed mental problems thatdisturb college students. In this study, humor was presentedto the subjects by watching a series of funny videos. Thepurpose of this study is to decrease the subjects’depression. The study has eight (n = 8) participants and mademade use of Beck’s Depression Inventory. The results in thisstudy includes the profile of the subjects in terms of ageand sex and the subjects’ scores from pre-test and post-test.It also includes a graph representation for the scores frompre-test to post-test. Findings in this study supported theother related existing researches on depression and humor.


INTRODUCTION

Seemingly, most college students suffer from different

types of psychological problems and depression ranks the top

among the other listed mental problems that disturb college

students (Wang, Wang, & Zhang, 2011).

As defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2014),

depression is a state of serious medical condition in which a

person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is

unable to live in a normal way. Depression has symptoms that

include low mood, low energy, having a poor concentration,


loss of pleasure, poor self-care, and a low self-esteem (Best

Practice, 2011). Moreover, Hsu and Lai (2004) stated that,

“depression results in high personal, social, and economic

costs through suffering, disability, deliberate self-harm and

health care provision. The personal burden of depression

includes higher mortality and impairment in multiple areas of

functioning”.

Despite of this, there will always be a solution for

reducing depression. The use of humor as a healing

intervention is common for most people. Exposure to humor

emotionally affects people’s moods and feelings because it

has been implicated that a good sense of humor can contribute

to psychological well-being (Cann & Collette, 2014).

Humor is a powerful solution to stress or depression.

There is nothing in this world that works faster to bring

one’s mind and body back into a normal balance but laughing.

Humor lightens people’s burdens and most of all, it simply

connects everyone.


There are some studies (like Samson & Gross, 2012; Cann

& Collette, 2014; Ko & Youn, 2011) which indicate that humor

has a positive effect.

Samson and Gross (2012) reveals in their study on Humour

as emotion regulation: The differential consequences of negative versus positive

humour, that positive humour produced better effects for up-

regulating positive and down-regulating negative emotions.

Additionally, in the study of Cann and Collette (2014)

on Sense of Humor, Stable Affect, and Psychological Well-Being, it was found

out that stable affect was associated to resilience and

psychological well-being and that a sense of humor which

involves self-enhancing humor and humor which is based on

maintaining a humorous perspective about one’s experiences

was positively associated to stable positive affect. Still,

it remained possible that any humor which will be use might

contribute to more stable positive affect by allowing for

greater amusement (Fredrickson, 2013 as stated by Cann &


Collette, 2014) or laughter (Martin, 2007 as stated by Cann &

Collette, 2014) to be present in one’s life.

Moreover, another study tells that laughter therapy had

positive effects on depression, specifically for geriatric,

insomnia and sleep quality. The results of depression in the

study of Ko and Youn (2011) on the effects of laughter

therapy on depression, cognition and sleep among the

community-dwelling elderly, are alike to previous studies

proven that a sense of humor is associated with the increased

of self-esteem and decreased in depressive features.

Though laughter therapy had a positive outcome on

depression and sleep, Ko and Youn (2011) concluded that it is

still unclear whether enhancement of depression will lead to

improvement of sleep or that laughter therapy can influenced

depression and sleep independently.

In this study, humor was presented to the subjects by

watching a series of funny videos. The purpose of this study

is to decrease the subjects’ depression.


Statement of the Problem

Generally, this experimental study aims to answer the

question if there is an effect of watching funny videos in

reducing depression.

Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that watching funny videos can reduce

depression.

Research Framework

IV DV

Watching funny Reduced

Videos Depression

Definition of Terms


The conceptual definition of Depression is “a

devastating “low” with extreme lack of energy, interest,

confidence, and enjoyment of life (Compilation of Notes in

Abnormal Psychology, 2014). In this study, people who are

depressed will be identified via Beck’s Depression Inventory.

For funny videos, the conceptual definition is a set of

video clips which may cause laughter, entertainment and

amusement to the viewers. In this study, funny videos were

downloaded from Youtube and it consists of three different

videos: (a) Vice Ganda’s joke in a sitcom which is showtime,

(b) compilations of baby laughing from Youtube and (c) Dodong

Job Interview by adromaguilar from Youtube.


METHODS

Participants

Forty College students (n = 40) enrolled at Saint Mary’s

University during the first semester of academic year 2014-

2015 were conveniently chosen to participate in the

experiment. From the forty participants, only 12 participants

met the set criteria score for depression and they were

chosen as the subjects for the actual experiment. But

unfortunately, only eight (n = 8) participants came for the

actual experiment.

Design

Pre-Test Post Test Only Design will be use to conduct

the experiment.


SUBJECTS MEASURE TREATMENT MEASURE

8 subjects Depression Watch Funny

Videos

Depression

Experimental Venue

The experimental study was conducted at the Psychology

Laboratory (Room A110) of Saint Mary’s University, Bayombong,

Nueva Vizcaya.

Materials/Instruments

The study made use of informed consent to inform the

participation of the subjects on the conduction of the

experiment.

Beck’s Depression Inventory

The study made use of Beck’s Depression Inventory.

It “is a 21-item, a self-report rating inventory that

measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of

depression” and “takes approximately 10 minutes to


finish” (Beck, et al., 1961, as cited in American

Psychological Association). Moreover, Beck et al. (1988,

as cited in American Psychological Association)

mentioned that BDI demonstrates high internal

consistency, with alpha coefficients of .86 and .81 for

psychiatric and non-psychiatric populations

respectively. The “internal consistency for the BDI

ranges from .73 to .92 with a mean of .86” (Beck, Steer,

& Garbin, 1988, as cited in American Psychological

Association).

For the scoring, each answer is scored on a scale

value of 0-3. The score interpretations are listed

below:

Total Score Levels of Depression

1-10 Considered normal

11-16 Mild mood disturbances

17-20 Borderline clinical

depression

21-30 Moderate depression

31-40 Severe depression


over 40 Extreme depression

The score interpretation was taken from

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/NMCP2/

PatientServices/SleepClinicLab/Documents/Beck_Depression_Inve

ntory.pdf

Procedures

1) The experimenters prepared several copies of the Beck’s

Depression Inventory.

2) Later, the experimenters selected one class of first year

students of SMU.

3) Informed consent was given before administering the

Beck’s Depression Inventory.

4) From the selected class, the experimenters identified the

individuals who met the required score for depression.

5) After identifying the subjects who met the set criteria

score for depression, they were asked to go to the

experimental venue.


6) After which, the subjects watched a 10-minute funny

video.

7) After watching, the subjects were again asked to answer

the Beck’s Depression Inventory.

8) The subjects were also asked to rate how funny the videos

by scaling it from 1 (which is the lowest) to 10 (which

is the highest).

9) The experimenters revealed the true experiment title and

purpose and explain that the first information about the

study was only a cover story.

10)And finally, the experimenters expressed profound

gratitude to the participants.

Data Analysis

The experimenters analyzed the data using a graph

representation.


RESULTS

Table: Participants’ Pre-Test Post Test Scores

SUBJECT AGE SEX PRE-TESTSCORE

POST TESTSCORE

GAINSCORE

A 16Femal

e22 9 13

B 18Femal

e25 20 5

C 16Femal

e27 23 4

D 16Femal

e17 12 5

E 16 Male 18 9 9

F 16 Male 24 21 3

G 16Femal

e25 21 4

H 16Femal

e18 15 3


The table represents the profile of the subjects in

terms of age and sex and the subjects’ scores from pre-test

and post-test. It reveals that the scores from pre-test of

the subjects decreased in the post-test scores. The gain

scores are the differences between the pre-test and post-test

scores.

Graph: Participants’ Pre-Test Post Test Scores


Pre-Test Score Post Test Score0

5

10

15

20

25

30

22

9

25

20

27

23

17

12

18

9

24

21

25

21

18

15

Subject ASubject BSubject CSubject DSubject ESubject FSubject GSubject H

The graph shows that the scores from pre-test declines in the post-test.

DISCUSSION


The goal of this study is to determine if watching funny

videos can reduce depression. Using the Beck’s Depression

Inventory for pre-test and post-test, the experimenters were

able to determine the scores of those individuals who were

depressed and identify if there is a decrease in their

depression scores after watching funny videos. As stated by

Cann and Collette (2014), exposure to humor emotionally

affects people’s moods and feelings because it has been

implicated that a good sense of humor can contribute to

psychological well-being and this study found that watching

funny videos can reduce depression. The subjects of this

experimental study got higher scores on the pre-test which

means that they are under depressed for the past days. After

they have watched several funny videos, again, they were

tested to see if there are changes in their scores and it

resulted in the decrease in their depression for their scores

also decline. The study results supported other related

studies that exposure to humor can bring positive affect to


individuals. Thus, there is an effect of watching funny

videos in reducing depression.

Although this study proves that there is a decrease in

depression after watching funny videos, in the future

studies, larger population of subjects on the experiment is

highly recommended. Secondly, pilot study for funny videos

will be done on a larger population.

Also, eliminate other extraneous variables if possible and

lastly, watching funny videos must be compared to other

variables because by only relying on watching funny videos,

it would not allow individuals to determine if it is really

the best way of reducing depression.

REFERENCES

Beck’s Depression Inventory (Interpreting the Beck DepressionInventory). Retrieved

from http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/NMCP2/PatientServices/SleepClinicLab/ Documents/Beck_Depression_Inventory.pdf

Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). American Psychological Association. Retrieved


from http://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/assessment/tools/beck-depression.aspx

Cann, A. & Collette, C. (2014).Sense of Humor, Stable Affect,and Psychological Well

Being. doi:10.5964/ejop.v10i3.746

Effectiveness of music listening in reducing depressive symptoms in adults. Best

Practice. Retrieved from http://connect.jbiconnectplus.org/ViewSourceFile. aspx?0=7123

Exploring Mood Disorders. Compilation of Notes in Abnormal Psychology. Page 99.

Hsu, WC. & Lai, HL. (2004). Effects of Music on Major Depression in

Psychiatric Inpatients. Retrieved from http://bothamadaleen.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/hsu-effects-of-music-on-major-depression.pdf

Ko, HJ. & Youn, CH. (2011).Effects of laughter therapy on depression, cognition and

sleep among the community-dwelling elderly. doi: 10.1111/j.1447

0594.2010.00680.x

Samson, A. C. & Gross, J. J (2012). Humour as emotion regulation: The differential

consequences of negative versus positive humour. Cognition& Emotion, 26:2, 375-384. Retrieved from http://spl.stanford.edu/pdfs/2012%20Samson%20Humor.pdf

Wang, J., Wang, H. & Zhang D. (2011). Impact of group music therapy on the depression

mood of college students. doi:10.4236/health.2011.33028


Appendix A

-Flowchart of Procedures

The experimenters prepared several copies of the Beck’sDepression Inventory

The experimenters prepared several copies of the Beck’sDepression Inventory.

Later, the experimenters selected one class of first yearstudents of SMU.

Informed consent was given before administering the Beck’sDepression Inventory.

From the selected class, the experimenters identified theindividuals who met the required score for depression.


After identifying the subjects who met the set criteria scorefor depression, they were asked to go to the experimental

venue.

After which, the subjects watched a 10-minute funny video.

After watching, the subjects were again asked to answer theBeck’s Depression Inventory.

The subjects were also asked to rate how funny the videos byscaling it from 1 (which is the lowest) to 10 (which is the

highest).

The experimenters revealed the true experiment title andpurpose and explain that the first information about the

study was only a cover story.

And finally, the experimenters expressed profound gratitudeto the participants.

Appendix B

-Informed Consent for the participants in the experimental research

SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITYBayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCESDepartment of Psychology and Guidance


Informed Consent for Participation in the Experimental Research Project

Project Title: Watching Funny VideosName of the experimenters: Reyalyn U. Antonio and Carol D. HorniContact Numbers: 09158810857 or 09263737986

I voluntarily agree to participate in the experimentwhich will be conducted on September 2014 at UB 118 andPsychology Laboratory (Room A110). I willingly give my timefor the experiment and completely understand that there willbe no harm in the experiment and I will follow theinstruction given to me.

I am aware that I can withdraw from the said experimentwhenever I feel uncomfortable. I also understand that theexperiment will be beneficial for me and I will receivecertificate for my voluntary participation. And finally, Ientrust to the experimenters that my name will be kept inutmost confidentiality.

My participation is subject to the following conditions:1. That sufficient safeguards will be provided to maintainthe privacy and confidentiality of my responses.2. That my name will not be used to eventually identify myresponses; instead, code numbers will be used.3. The investigation has been described to me by theexperimenters, who have answered all my questions.

_________________

Date

_____________________________________________ _________________


Participant’s signature over printed name Contact Number

REYALYN U. ANTONIO CAROL D. HORNI

Student Researcher StudentResearcher

Appendix C

-Letter for the chosen class

Saint Mary’s UniversityBayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

School of Arts and SciencesDepartment of Psychology and Guidance

________________________________________________________________________

Dear __________

Marian Greetings!

The third year Psychology majors of this university are

required to conduct an experiment as a partial fulfillment of

the requirements of the Experimental Psychology subject. As

Marian third year Psychology majors, we will conduct a study

on the The Effect of Watching Funny Videos in Reducing Depression. The study

will take place at __________________. The whole experiment


will only take at about an hour. As compensation, the

participants will receive a certificate.

In connection, may we ask the participation of

________________________________________ as the selected

participants in this study during the conduct of the

experiment on _________________.

We shall appreciate it if you will grant our request. God

Bless! More Power!

Respecfully Yours,

Reyalyn U. Antonio Carol D. Horni Student Researcher Student Researcher

Noted by:Mr. John G. Tayaban

Instructor, Experimental PsychologyAppendix D

-Letter for the venue

Saint Mary’s UniversityBayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

School of Arts and SciencesDepartment of Psychology and Guidance

________________________


________________________________________________

Dear __________

Marian Greetings!

As partial fulfillment of the requirements of theExperimental Psychology (Psy 105) subject, we are planning toconduct an experiment study entitled “The Effect of Watching FunnyVideos in Reducing Depression”.

In this regard, may we request to use______________________________________ as an experimentalroom on ________________________________________.

We shall appreciate it if you will grant our request. God

Bless! More Power!

Respecfully Yours,

Reyalyn U. Antonio Carol D. Horni Student Researcher Student Researcher

Noted by:Mr. John G. Tayaban

Instructor, Experimental Psychology


Appendix E

-The Beck’s Depression InventoryInstrument

Age: ____________ Gender: __________

Instructions: Encircle the number of the statement which you think best suits you. Give only one (1) answer to each set.

0 I do not feel sad.1 I feel sad2 I am sad all the time and I can't snap out of it.3 I am so sad and unhappy that I can't stand it.

0 I am not particularly discouraged about the future.1 I feel discouraged about the future.2 I feel I have nothing to look forward to.3 I feel the future is hopeless and that things cannot improve.

0 I do not feel like a failure.1 I feel I have failed more than the average person.2 As I look back on my life, all I can see is a lotof failures.3 I feel I am a complete failure as a person.

0 I get as much satisfaction out of things as I used to.1 I don't enjoy things the way I used to.2 I don't get real satisfaction out of anything anymore.3 I am dissatisfied or bored with everything.

0 I don't feel particularly guilty1 I feel guilty a good part of the time.2 I feel quite guilty most of the time.3 I feel guilty all of the time.

0 I don't feel I am being punished.1 I feel I may be punished.2 I expect to be punished.3 I feel I am being punished.


0 I don't feel disappointed in myself.1 I am disappointed in myself.2 I am disgusted with myself.3 I hate myself.

0 I don't feel I am any worse than anybody else.1 I am critical of myself for my weaknesses or mistakes.2 I blame myself all the time for my faults.3 I blame myself for everything bad that happens.

0 I don't have any thoughts of killing myself.1 I have thoughts of killing myself, but I would

not carry them out.2 I would like to kill myself.3 I would kill myself if I had the chance.

0 I don't cry any more than usual.1 I cry more now than I used to.2 I cry all the time now.3 I used to be able to cry, but now I can't cry

even though I want to.

0 I am no more irritated by things than I ever was.1 I am slightly more irritated now than usual. 2 I am quite annoyed or irritated a good deal of the time. 3 I feel irritated all the time.

0 I have not lost interest in other people. 1 I am less interested in other people than I used to be. 2 I have lost most of my interest in other people. 3 I have lost all of my interest in other people.

0 I make decisions about as well as I ever could. 1 I put off making decisions more than I used to. 2 I have greater difficulty in making decisions

more than I used to. 3 I can't make decisions at all anymore. 0 I don't feel that I look any worse than I used to. 1 I am worried that I am looking old or unattractive.


2 I feel there are permanent changes in my appearance that make me look unattractive

3 I believe that I look ugly.

0 I can work about as well as before. 1 It takes an extra effort to get started at doing something. 2 I have to push myself very hard to do anything. 3 I can't do any work at all. 0 I can sleep as well as usual. 1 I don't sleep as well as I used to. 2 I wake up 1-2 hours earlier than usual and find

it hard to get back to sleep. 3 I wake up several hours earlier than I used to

and cannot get back to sleep. 0 I don't get more tired than usual. 1 I get tired more easily than I used to. 2 I get tired from doing almost anything. 3 I am too tired to do anything.

0 My appetite is no worse than usual. 1 My appetite is not as good as it used to be. 2 My appetite is much worse now. 3 I have no appetite at all anymore.

0 I haven't lost much weight, if any, lately. 1 I have lost more than five pounds. 2 I have lost more than ten pounds. 3 I have lost more than fifteen pounds.

0 I am no more worried about my health than usual. 1 I am worried about physical problems like aches,

pains, upset stomach, or constipation. 2 I am very worried about physical problems and

it's hard to think of much else. 3 I am so worried about my physical problems that I

cannot think of anything else.

0 I have not noticed any recent change in my interest in sex. 1 I am less interested in sex than I used to be. 2 I have almost no interest in sex. 3 I have lost interest in sex completely.


Appendix F

-Script for obtaining Informed Consent

Reya: Hello everyone. I am your ate Reyalyn Antonio.

Carol: And I am your ate Carol Horni.

Reya: We are third year Psychology and Guidance Counseling majorsfrom the School of Arts and Sciences. We are here to conduct astudy as a requirement in one of our major subject, which is theExperimental Psychology. Our study is entitled, “Watching FunnyVideos.” In this connection, I am here to inform you that yourclass has been selected to be part of it. The PsychologicalAssociation of the Philippines set some ethical rules that wemust follow. One of these is that participants must be giveninformed consent before they become part of the study. Theinformed consent will contain your willingness to participate inthis study upon your agreement of term and condition. So now,your ate Carol will distribute the consent letter.

(After distribution)

Reya: Allow me to read the consent aloud as you read it with youreyes.

Do you have any questions? (Allow them to raise their questions)

If there are no questions kindly fill it up.

(Allow them to fill the consent)

Are you all done? Then, please pass the consent in front.

Thank you everyone for accepting our invitation to be part of ourstudy. In connection to this, you will be ask to answer the Beck’s Depression Inventory as part of our study.


Appendix G

-Script for Test Administration of the Beck’s Depression Inventory

Reya: Before we officially begin the test administration, thosewho want to go to the CR please go now because when thequestionnaires are already given, you are not anymore allowed toleave the area.

(After going to CR)

Reya: So are you ready? Please occupy the front seats and be surethat you are in line with the people infront. Please bring outyour pencil or pen and sit properly. Avoid making noise andremember, you are not allowed to talk with your seatmates. You’reate Carol will first distribute the questionnaires and please donot pass it unless I told you to do so.

Reya: Does all of you have the questionnaires? If so, kindly getone, and pass the remaining sheets to the person at your back.Please don’t right anything yet in the questionnaire. Wait for mygo signal.

Now, you have there the Beck’s Depression Inventory. This is a21-item test and you can finish it within 10 minutes. Be remindedthat there is no right or wrong answer so please be honest.


Let us first read the direction. Read it with your eyes as I readit aloud.

Any question? If there are no more questions, again, answerhonestly the questions and don’t compare it with your seatmate.You may now start.

Reya: You have 3 minutes left to answer the questionnaires.

Reya: Are you all done? Then, kindly pass the questionnairesinfront. You’re ate Carol will collect the questionnaires. Don’tyou worry because your test score and interpretation is highlyconfidential.

Reya: Of course, not all of you can continue to the next part ofour study. So to those who will get high in this test will beinformed the day before the next test administration.

Thank you everyone for your participation. Have a nice day

Appendix H

-Script for the Actual Experiment

Reya: Goodmorning everyone. So you are chosen to be theparticipants in this study for your score in the Beck’sDepression Inventory met the criteria set for this.

Before we start, if ever you need to go to the CR, please do itnow for we will not allow you to leave the research venue later.


(After going to the CR)

Reya: You don’t need anything in this study. All you need to dois to watch a 10-minute video and after watching, you will againanswer the Beck’s Depression Inventory as part of the researchprocedure.

(After watching)

Reya: Now, your ate Carol will give you the questionnaires.Again, please fill up the above information. You are given 10minutes to finish it. Your time starts now.

(After 10 minutes)

Reya: Are you all done? If so, your ate Carol will collect thequestionnaires.

(After collecting)

Reya: Thank you for your full participation in our study. Beagain reminded that your answers are highly confidential. Godbless everyone.


Appendix I

-Script for Debriefing

Reya: Thank you guys for your full participation and we highly

appreciate you for helping us to make our study successful! I

have informed earlier that the experiment was on the Watching Funny

Videos, yet we only use that as a cover story so not to alter your

natural response. The true title of our study is The Effect of

watching Funny Videos in Reducing Depression. The aim of the study is to

investigate if watching funny videos can reduce depression. We

divided the group in to two, the group who watched the funny

videos and the other group who just stayed at the other room and

waited for 10 minutes. This is to see if those who watch the

funny videos will decline in their depression level compared to

those who haven’t.

I would like to inform you that if ever you want to know any

information about our study once it is already completed, feel

free to contact us. And don’t worry the results of your

depression level will be treated with confidentiality.


Once again, we would like to extend our sincerest and

deepest gratitude to all of you. Thank you and God bless!

Carol: Thank you guys.

Appendix J

-Certificate of Participation