Showing papers on "Laughter Yoga published in 2019"
TL;DR: Laughter therapy may represent a beneficial, noninvasive complementary intervention in the clinical setting in cancer patients as part of a randomized controlled trial conducted at a single institution in Japan.
Abstract: Background
Few randomized controlled trials have assessed the effects of laughter therapy on health-related quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate these effects as an exploratory endpoint in cancer patients as part of a randomized controlled trial conducted at a single institution in Japan.
Methods
The Initiative On Smile And CAncer (iOSACA) study was an open-label randomized controlled trial conducted in 2017 in which participants aged 40–64 years with cancer were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (laughter therapy) or control group (no laughter therapy). Each participant in the intervention group underwent a laughter therapy session once every two weeks for seven weeks (total of four sessions). Each session involved a laughter yoga routine followed by Rakugo or Manzai traditional Japanese verbal comedy performances. We assessed QOL as a secondary endpoint in this intention-to-treat population using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). The questionnaire was completed at baseline (Week 0) and at Weeks 3 and 7. Mixed-effects models for repeated measures were developed to compare time-dependent changes in each QOL domain from baseline between the intervention and control groups.
Results
Four participants retracted consent and one participant was retrospectively excluded from analysis due to unmet inclusion criteria. The analysis was conducted using 56 participants, with 26 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group. Questionnaire completion rates were high (>90%), with similar QOL scores reported at baseline in both groups. The mixed-effects models showed that the intervention group had significantly better cognitive function and less pain than the control group for a short period.
Conclusion
Laughter therapy may represent a beneficial, noninvasive complementary intervention in the clinical setting. Further studies are needed to verify the hypotheses generated from this exploratory study.
67 citations
TL;DR: A full scale RCT of LY could be feasible if some modifications were made to the protocol/intervention to improve depression and mental health related quality of life immediately post intervention.
52 citations
Abstract: Background: Nursing is stressful profession and represents a contrast, dynamic exchange of energy between nurses and their environment. Nurses as the human being uses innate processes to maintain and restore homeostasis under stressful conditions. Stress reduction techniques were not aware to them. Laughter therapy used to reduce burnout syndromes, stress, anxiety, and depression and enhance the psychological wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of laughter therapy on burnout syndromes among nurses in psychiatric hospitals. Subjects and Setting : This study was conducted at Psychiatric Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Hospital at Menofia Governorate, Egypt. Purposive sample consisted of 64 nurses selected which include 42 female and 22 male present during period of data collection, divided into two groups; experimental and control group (21 female, 11 male for each group ). Research design: A quasi experimental (two groups pre/ post test) research design was used to achieve the purpose of the study. Tools: Structured interview questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (M BI-HSS) were used for data collection . Results: revealed that there was a highly significant reduction in the mean score of burnout among experimental group compared to control group after the laughter therapy and there was statistical significant differences between the experimental and control groups regarding the level of burnout after therapy in relation to all Socio-demographic characteristics except with age group. Conclusion: it can be concluded that: laughter therapy had great positive effect on burnout syndromes among psychiatric nurses. Recommendations : the findings should be disseminated to the authorities in the study setting and introduced as a component of laughter therapy exercise.
11 citations
TL;DR: Laughter yoga can promote the mental well-being of patients undergoing chemotherapy; therefore, its clinical applications are recommended in this study.
Abstract: Background: It is generally accepted thatcancer affects the concept of mental well-being by changing the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions of the patient's life. Laughter yoga as one of the complementary therapies may promote mental well-being in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of laughter yoga on the mental well-being of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 69 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at Reza Medical Center, Mashhad, Iran, in 2018. The intervention group was subjected to four 20-30 min sessions of laughter yoga prior to chemotherapy. On the other hand, the control group received routine self-care training. The mental well-being scores were measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) before and after the laughter yoga sessions. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) using an independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Wilcoxon test, and repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: According to the results,the mean age values of the patients were 49.0±9.6 and 45.2±12.6 years in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Regarding the independent t-test results, the mean post-test WEMWBS score in the intervention group (50.0±8.9) was significantly higher than that in the control group (47.9±10.4, P=0.004). Moreover, the repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant increase in the mean post-test WEMWBS score in the intervention group (P<0.001).
Implications for Practice: Laughter yoga can promote the mental well-being of patients undergoing chemotherapy; therefore, its clinical applications are recommended in this study.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the impact of a brief take-home laughter yoga practice (B-TLYP) on the multi-dimensional affects among Chinese adults in Hong Kong.
Abstract: Objective: To examine the impact of a brief take-home laughter yoga practice (B-TLYP) on the multi-dimensional affects among Chinese adults in Hong Kong.Method: The intervention consisted of a one-...
5 citations
1 Jul 2019
TL;DR: Patients that engaged in Laughter Yoga found it to be a value-adding activity that supported their wellbeing, in a cohort of people with kidney disease requiring haemodialysis.
Abstract: Background: Laughter Yoga is a patient engagement strategy that promotes health and wellbeing through a structured group laughter therapy program or session. It is a cost-effective and accessible e...
5 citations
9 Dec 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore how participation in Laughter yoga (LY) could assist in supporting the overall well-being of Nishnawbe youth and provide an Indigenous perspective of mental health in Canadian schools and introduce how the use of laughter has been recognized by Indigenous groups around the world as an integral component of community bonding, social interaction, and communal storytelling.
Abstract: This paper explores how the participation in Laughter Yoga (LY) could assist in supporting the overall well-being of Nishnawbe youth. Many Nishnawbe youth are at a heightened risk of mental health issues and social inequities that are associated with the (social) stigma and discrimination that is indicative of colonialism. I illustrate these risks and inequities by discussing the effects of colonialism and the Indian Residential Schools. I discuss the educational inequities that impact many First Nations youth and review the province of Ontario’s largest coroner’s inquest into the tragic deaths of seven Nishnawbe youth in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay as an example of these inequities. I then provide an Indigenous perspective of mental health in Canadian schools and introduce how the use of laughter has been recognized by Indigenous groups around the world as an integral component of community bonding, social interaction, and communal storytelling. Next, I examine the positive physiological and psychological affects that laughter has on the body and how the promotion of laughter is one strategy that could be introduced to advocate an overall sense of wellness. I then explain the concept of LY and the benefits that LY could have in the classroom. This paper concludes with a list of recommendations that will help support educational administrators, educators, and those who work with/for First Nations youth in the implementation of a school-based LY program as an embodied movement wellness practice with/for First Nations youth within Canadian schools.
2 citations
30 Dec 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce laughter exercises as a positive psychology intervention (PPI) to a Middle Eastern audience and discuss the limitations of laughter yoga in the context of cultural suitability with respect to fear of happiness.
Abstract: This presentation sought to introduce laughter exercises as a positive psychology intervention (PPI) to a Middle Eastern audience. It aimed to provide a brief delineation of related concepts (specifically laughter, playfulness and humour) and situate them in the context of positive psychology, mainly through their link to positive emotions and the Broaden and Build theory. Laughter Yoga, a form of laughter exercise based on unconditional laughter, yogic breathing and playfulness, was introduced as an example of a laughter PPI. Limitations of laughter yoga in the context of cultural suitability were discussed, specifically with respect to fear of happiness.
1 citations
Dissertation•
1 Jan 2019
TL;DR: In this article, a quasi-experimental pre-post design with an intervention group and a non-randomized waitlist- control group (WLC) was employed to seek evidence about the effectiveness on different concepts.
Abstract: Laughter Yoga, a simulated form of laughter gets increasing attention worldwide. However, scientifically, there is still a huge lack of evidence of LY in both theoretical and empirical grounds. The aim of the present study is to seek evidence about the effectiveness on different concepts. A quasi-experimental pre-post design with an intervention group and a non-randomized waitlist- control group (WLC) was employed.Participants (≥18 years) were assigned to the LY (N=24) or the wait-list control group (N=24). Four LY sessions, each lasting 30 minutes, were given twice a week for a duration of two weeks. Data were collected at T0 and T1 on the outcome variables (1) mental well-being (2) self-compassion and (3) health promoting behavior. Results revealed that the intervention was very positive experienced. The subscale emotional well-being (p < 0.01) did significantly increase compared in the LY group to the control group. The other concepts were not significantly improved by LY and self-compassion was not an underlying mechanism of LY.On the basis of this study it can be concluded that LY may be a suitable positive, psychological intervention enhancing hedonic well-being.
Keywords: positive psychological intervention, simulated laughter, laughter yoga, mental well-being, self-compassion, health promoting behaviors, salutogenesis
1 citations
TL;DR: A pilot study is conducted at a suburban community hospital to test the effect of laughter yoga on decreasing nurses' stress and compassion fatigue and enhancing their compassion satisfaction.
Abstract: Laughter yoga is prolonged voluntary laughter accompanied by deep breathing and ending with meditation and relaxation. Read about a pilot study at a suburban community hospital to test the effect of laughter yoga on decreasing nurses' stress and compassion fatigue and enhancing their compassion satisfaction.
TL;DR: Laughter yoga is more effective than anti-anxiety medication in reducing the GI symptoms of patients with IBS, and applying laughter yoga along with common pharmacological therapies for patients withIBS might be strongly advised.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. Patients with IBS usually suffer from anxiety and depression. A combination of psychological approaches and pharmacological treatments can be a significantly effective treatment for IBS. The main objective of the present study was to provide a therapeutic plan based on laughter yoga and anti-anxiety medication, employed for the very first time, and to determine the effectiveness of these treatments on the anxiety and GI symptoms of patients with IBS. METHODS In this randomized, controlled, clinical trial, the participants were 60 patients selected from those who referred to the GI clinic of Vali-asr Hospital (Birjand, Iran) during the study period (April 2017 to March 2017) and were diagnosed as having IBS based on ROME III criteria. The participants were randomly assigned to either the laughter yoga group, the anti-anxiety medication group, or the symptomatic treatment (control) group. Severity levels of anxiety and GI symptoms before and after intervention were determined and compared among these three groups according to approved protocols. RESULTS The severity of IBS symptoms after the interventions was more greatly reduced in the laughter yoga group than in the anti-anxiety medication and control groups (p = 0.006). The severity of anxiety after interventions decreased in all three groups, especially in the yoga treatment group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.1). CONCLUSION Laughter yoga is more effective than anti-anxiety medication in reducing the GI symptoms of patients with IBS. Therefore, applying laughter yoga along with common pharmacological therapies for patients with IBS might be strongly advised.
10 Jan 2019
TL;DR: Laughter Therapy intervention has a positive effect on improving the quality of life of elderly people in nursing homes, and it is necessary that authorities consider this program at nursing home centers as a complementary method besides the existing treatments for reducing the mental health problems and improving the QoL of the elderly.
Abstract: Background: Old age is associated with the physical and psychological problems that affect the Quality of Life (QoL). Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Laughter Therapy (LT) on the QoL of elderly people in nursing homes. Materials & Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test with the control and experimental group and one-month follow-up conducted in 2017. The statistical population consisted of 44 elderly people in the Mehr Aein nursing home in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh City, Iran. Based on the inclusion criteria, 32 old people were selected and randomly assigned to experimental (n=16) and control (n=16) groups. The experimental group received an interventional program consisting of Madan Kataria Laughter Therapy, showing comic films, and reading comic books for one month, over 12 sessions of 100 minutes. After the end of laughter intervention, the elderly of both groups responded to the elderly quality of life questionnaire (LIPAD). The obtained data were analyzed using covariance analysis of repeated measures. Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to their QoL (P<0.01). That is, the adjusted mean of the experimental group in the QoL was significantly higher than the mean of the control group (P<0.01). Also, in the experimental group, the mean follow-up score was higher than the mean score of the pre-test, which indicates the stability of the intervention effects after one month (P<0.01). Conclusion: Laughter Therapy intervention has a positive effect on improving the QoL of the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary that authorities consider this program at nursing home centers as a complementary method besides the existing treatments for reducing the mental health problems and improving the QoL of the elderly.