The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Perceived Stress and Quality of Life in Persons with Schizophrenia: A Mixed Method Pilot Study.

This study was planned to examine the effects of laughter therapy on the perceived stress and quality of life level of persons with schizophrenia and their views on laughter therapy. This study is a mixed-methods pilot study conducted using a quasi-experimental design based on the pretest-posttest model. Of the participants 68% (n = 17) were male, 92% (n = 23) were single, 56% (14) were high school graduates, 60% (n = 15) were unemployed, 60% (n = 15) lived with their parents, 88% (22) had been receiving treatment for schizophrenia for more than 10 years. The difference between the pretest and post-test means was not found to be significant in participants' perceived stress (p > 0.05), and the difference between the pretest and post-test means of the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale's Interpersonal Relations, Instrumental Role, and Intrapsychicv (mental findings) subscales was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). The main themes of laughter therapy among persons with schizophrenia in the focus group interviews were found to be optimism, coping, health, sociability, motivation, awareness, and functionality. Laughter therapy was found to increase the quality of life of persons with schizophrenia, not affect perceived stress, and positively affect optimism, coping, health, sociability, motivation, awareness, and functionality levels. The researchers recommend using laughter therapy to improve the quality of life of people with schizophrenia during their rehabilitation.

Effect of Laughter Yoga on Sleep and Quality of Life in Individuals With Fecal Ostomies: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of laughter yoga on the quality of life and sleep quality in individuals with fecal ostomies. DESIGN: This was randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 55 individuals with an ostomy who received care at Ankara University's I˙bni Sina Hospital Stoma Therapy Unit in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected over a 2-month period (January and February 2020). METHODS: Participants were allocated into an intervention group (n = 27) who received a yoga therapy intervention and a control group (n = 28) who received no intervention via simple randomization. Demographic and pertinent clinical variables were obtained during a baseline visit in both groups, along with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Stoma-Quality of Life (Stoma-QOL) instruments. The intervention group received laughter yoga weekly over a period of 8 weeks. RESULTS: Mean scores on the PSQI and the Stoma-QOL at baseline were compared. Participants in the intervention had a significant decline in mean PSQI scores (6.85 vs 5.48, P = .044) indicating improvement in sleep quality following the intervention. Analysis revealed no significant difference in mean Stoma-QOL scores (P = .077). Control group participants had no significant difference in either mean PSQI or Stoma-QOL scores following data collection at the end of 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Laughter yoga had a positive effect on the sleep quality in individuals with fecal ostomies. Further research is recommended to evaluate the effect of the number of laughter yoga sessions on the sleep quality and quality of life in individuals with ostomies.

The effect of laughter yoga on loneliness, psychological resilience, and quality of life in older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

This study aims to examine how laughter yoga affects the loneliness, psychological resilience, and quality of life of older adults living in a nursing home. The sample of this intervention study, made using a control group with a pretest/posttest design, consists of 65 older adults living in Turkey. The data were collected in September 2022 using the Personal Information Form, the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly, the Brief Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Quality of Life Scale for the Elderly. The intervention group (n=32) took part in laughter yoga twice a week for four weeks. No intervention was made with the control group (n=33). A statistically significant difference was found between the groups' mean post-test scores for loneliness, psychological resilience, and quality of life (p < 0.05) after the laughter yoga sessions. The eight-session laughter yoga program was found to reduce loneliness and increase resilience and quality of life in older adults.

The effect of online laughter therapy on depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness among nursing students during the Covid-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students experienced mental symptoms when they switched to distance education due to the pandemic. AIMS: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of online laughter therapy sessions on depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness levels in first-year nursing students. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 61 healthy nursing students were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 32) and control groups (n = 29). The intervention group received online laughter therapy twice weekly for four weeks. The control group received no intervention. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale at the study initiation and week four in both groups. RESULTS: There was no difference between the mean scores of the groups in the pre-test (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of depression after online laughter therapy sessions (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between anxiety, stress, and loneliness levels (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Online laughter therapy sessions significantly reduced depression but had no effect on anxiety, stress, and loneliness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, online laughter therapy can be organized to reduce depression levels.

The effect of laughter therapy on happiness and self-esteem level in 5th grade students.

PROBLEM: The study was conducted to examine the effects of laughter therapy on happiness level and self-esteem in 5th grade students. METHODS: This study used an experimental study with pretest posttest control group. The study population consisted of 5th grade students studying at a secondary school in Turkey. There were six branches in the 5th grade. Groups were randomly selected from among these 5th grade classes to include 29 students in the intervention group and 32 in the control group. Laughter therapy sessions were applied to the intervention group twice a week for 4 weeks. No intervention was offered to the control group. The data were collected by a questionnaire, the School Children's Happiness Inventory, and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. RESULTS: It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the School Children's Happiness Inventory (p < .05) but no significant difference was found according to the groups' scores on the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was determined that laughter therapy increased the happiness level of students yet had no effect on their self-esteem. It is recommended to organize laughter therapy activities in schools to increase the happiness levels of students.

Effect of laughter yoga on mental symptoms and salivary cortisol levels in first-year nursing students: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: University students are faced with several stress factors affecting their mental health. Therefore, the first year at university is a period that calls for careful attention and research. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of laughter yoga on mental symptoms and cortisol levels in nursing students. METHODS: This study is a randomized controlled study employing a pre-/post-test design with a control group. A total of 75 healthy university students were assigned to the intervention group and control group. The Brief Symptom Inventory was applied to both groups before Session 1 and after Session 8. Saliva samples were taken from the students to measure their cortisol levels before and after each session. RESULTS: Evaluation of the mean scores obtained from the Brief Symptom Inventory before and after the intervention showed a significant decrease in the scores between groups (P < 0.05). In three out of the eight sessions, there was a significant decrease in the intervention group compared with the control group regarding the mean values of pre-test and post-test salivary cortisol levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Laughter yoga can provide an effective means to help first-year nursing students cope with stress and reduce mental symptoms.