The value of humour therapy in dealing with anxiety in HIV-positive HIV/AIDS lay counsellors
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Date
2011
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
A convenience sample of 10 HIV-positive lay counsellors from Africa International Research Centre, Mtubatuba, Zululand, participated in the study of humour therapy evaluation. Humour therapy was used as an intervention strategy, which took place in a group format. Three humour therapy sessions were conducted per week over a period of two weeks. Beck’s Anxiety Inventory was the chosen standardized instrument used to pre- and post-test anxiety levels of the participants. Individual interviews were also used to evaluate participants’ perceptions of humour therapy (pre- and post-intervention). Ninety percent of the participants found humour therapy to be effective, with the exception of one participant who on pre- and post-assessment had equal measurements, indicating no improvement or negative effects. A self-help tool was given to participants to utilize for a period of three months following the humour therapy intervention. Three of the ten participants chose not to use the self-help tool. Out of the seven participants who did make use of the tool, five found it helpful (maintained decreased anxiety levels), while two did not find it useful.
Description
Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011.
Keywords
Humour therapy, Anxiety -- HIV/Aids