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Subjective Happiness, Frequency of Laughter, and Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES)

Author

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  • Fumikazu Hayashi

    (Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
    Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
    These authors contributed equally to the work.)

  • Yuka Shirai

    (Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
    These authors contributed equally to the work.)

  • Tetsuya Ohira

    (Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
    Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Kokoro Shirai

    (Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan)

  • Naoki Kondo

    (Department of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

  • Katsunori Kondo

    (Department of Social Preventive Medical Sciences, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
    Department of Gerontological Evaluation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Ohbu 474-8511, Japan)

Abstract

In recent years, positive psychological factors, such as subjective happiness and laughter, have been reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease. In this study, we examined the relationship of hypertension with subjective happiness and frequency of laughter using the data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). Of the 138,294 respondents, 26,368 responded to a version of the self-administered questionnaire that included a question about the frequency of laughter in the JAGES 2013. In total, 22,503 (10,571 men and 11,932 women) were included in the analysis after excluding those with missing responses regarding a history of hypertension, frequency of laughter, and subjective happiness. The prevalence of hypertension in this study was 10,364 (46.1%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, female sex, obesity, infrequent chewing, former and current drinker, seeing three to five friends, and the absence of hobbies were positively associated with hypertension. However, infrequent laughter/high level of subjective happiness, frequent laughter/high level of subjective happiness, being underweight, and current smoker were negatively associated with hypertension. As per the findings of this study, it was determined that subjective happiness was negatively associated with hypertension. Therefore, this study suggests that having more opportunities to feel happiness may be important in preventing hypertension.

Suggested Citation

  • Fumikazu Hayashi & Yuka Shirai & Tetsuya Ohira & Kokoro Shirai & Naoki Kondo & Katsunori Kondo, 2023. "Subjective Happiness, Frequency of Laughter, and Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:9:p:5713-:d:1138800
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    2. Fu, Rong & Noguchi, Harkuo & Tachikawa, Hirokazu & Aiba, Miyuki & Nakamine, Shin & Kawamura, Akira & Takahashi, Hideto & Tamiya, Nanako, 2017. "Relation between social network and psychological distress among middle-aged adults in Japan: Evidence from a national longitudinal survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 58-65.
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