Are you having a bad day and feeling like no one understands you? Try sharing a joke with a friend to bolster your mood and mind health.

We have long known that laughter has positive effects on stress levels, blood pressure, pain tolerance, and general well-being.

But research now shows that simply sharing a few jokes also can solidify your connections with others.

Dr. Todd Kashdan and his colleagues at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., studied more than 5,500 face-to-face interactions between 162 volunteers.

When the volunteers laughed together, they experienced heightened intimacy and positive emotions, and those results were sustained by improving future interactions.

Even when the volunteers encountered people they hadn’t laughed with, those meetings engendered good feelings too.

The positive emotions you share with others have actual biological effects. Studies indicate that laughter elevates levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that promotes social bonding.