India’s First Laughter Survey: In a first, study offers insight into nation’s laughter quotient

On being asked “what does laughter mean?”, participants said it is “joy, healing, stress relieving, bonding, family time, and even freedom”.

Mentioning that laughter is considered “extremely important” in daily life, Dr Jaswal, a former researcher at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), said the average laughter score of the participants was at 3.6 — 35% of them laugh over 10 times a day, 30% (five to 10 times daily), 10% (rarely), and 5% (almost never), among others.

According to over 50% of the participants, laughter is “sparked by friends and family — the heart of their happiness”.

Thirteen per cent, meanwhile, said “laughter is a tool to relieve stress and uplift mood.”

“During the survey, work pressure, lack of social connection, and health concerns emerged as the top barriers to laughter — 84% of them believe laughter can improve physical and mental health. The study, viewing laughter as a daily ritual as well as a powerful coping strategy, sheds light on people who seek happiness amidst hustle. It shows the need to prioritise emotional wellness in daily life. We believe laughter is not just about feeling good. It is about being well, for everything begins with a smile,” Dr Jaswal said.