CCC 28-4_LR

NEWS & NOTES

NEW MORAL LOW A record 56% of Americans now describe the nation’s moral values as “poor,” according to a recent Gallup poll, representing a 12-point increase from the previous year. In addition, 80% of respondents say moral values in the United States are declining, a figure that has risen 14 percentage points since 2025. 6 LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE The familiar saying “laughter is the best medicine” may hold more truth than previously recognized. Emerging research suggests that laughter plays an important role in children’s development by sup porting emotional resilience, strengthening learning capacity, and promoting healthy brain function. Scientists have found that laugh ter is not merely a lighthearted response but a complex biological process that helps regulate the nervous system and foster mean ingful emotional connections. Dr. Jacqueline Harding, a British early childhood specialist and author of The Brain That Loves to Laugh , suggests that humor and laughter can equip children with valuable tools for coping with stress and navigating life’s diffi culties. She argues that hope and humor are not merely pleasant additions to childhood but essential ingredients in healthy devel opment. Laughter activates multiple brain regions, including motor areas and the prefrontal cortex, and affects physical processes such as heart rate, breathing, and immune function. Research indicates that laughter may reduce stress-related hormones, including corti sol and epinephrine, while increasing neurotransmitters associated with well-being, such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. These effects may contribute to improved immune functioning, stronger memory, and greater emotional regulation. The bene fits of laughter extend beyond the individual child by strengthening the bond between children and their caregivers. Creating these moments does not require telling jokes or performing humor. Simple experiences of shared play, smiles, eye contact, and joyful interaction between parents and children can cultivate connection, security, and emotional closeness. 7 MOST U.S. MOMS AND DADS ARE BOTH BREADWINNERS FOR FIRST TIME A record proportion of families with both a mother and father work ing full time reached a new high last year, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis. The increase reflects several broad er trends, including the growing participation of college-educated women in the workforce and the financial pressures created by ris ing living costs. Among different-sex couples with children under age 18, 52% now consist of two parents who are employed full time. This represents a six-percentage-point increase over the past decade and a substantial rise from 1975, when the figure was 21 percentage points lower. During the same period, the share of fam ilies in which the father worked full time while the mother was not employed declined significantly, falling from 42% in 1975 to 23% last year. Most parents in dual-income households where both par ents work full time report that this arrangement provides important financial advantages, with more than 80% viewing it as benefi cial economically. By contrast, families in which the mother is not employed are far more likely to say that this structure supports their children’s overall well-being. 8

Christian Counseling Connection 31