Laughter Yoga's Impact on Parental Stress, Burnout, and Self-Efficacy

Pamukkale University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Self Efficacy; Burnout; Parents; Laughter Yoga; Intellectual Disability; Stress

Treatments: Other: Laughter yoga

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07119164

PamukkaleU-SBE-BB-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study aims to investigate the effects of laughter yoga on stress levels, burnout, and parental self-efficacy among parents of children with intellectual disabilities.

The specific hypotheses of the study are as follows:

Hypothesis 1: The mean salivary cortisol levels of the intervention group will be significantly lower than those of the control group.

Hypothesis 2: The perceived stress levels of the intervention group will be significantly lower than those of the control group.

Hypothesis 3: The parental self-efficacy levels of the intervention group will be significantly higher than those of the control group.

Hypothesis 4: The burnout levels of the intervention group will be significantly lower than those of the control group.

To assess the effectiveness of the laughter yoga intervention, participants in the intervention group will be compared to a control group of parents who also have children with intellectual disabilities but will not receive any form of intervention. The intervention will consist of a total of eight laughter yoga sessions, conducted twice a week over a four-week period.

Enrollment: 64 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Parents of children enrolled in the school where the study was conducted
• Parents of children diagnosed with moderate to severe intellectual disability
• Parents who are at least literate
• Parents who can speak and understand Turkish
• Parents with no prior experience in laughter yoga

Exclusion criteria

• Parents who have undergone abdominal surgery in the past three months, or those with uncontrolled hypertension, glaucoma, hernia, or epilepsy
• Parents diagnosed with endocrine disorders such as Cushing's or Addison's disease
• Parents on continuous medication (e.g., glucocorticoids, antidepressants, insulin, or oral antidiabetics)
• Pregnant parents
• Parents with hearing, vision, speech, or intellectual disabilities

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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64 participants in 2 patient groups

"Laughter yoga intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

A total of 32 mothers who met the inclusion criteria comprised the intervention group and received a total of eight laughter yoga sessions. The laughter yoga intervention was delivered by a researcher certified as a laughter yoga instructor. The intervention protocol was developed within a structured program framework, with each session conducted according to standardized and pre-established guidelines. The laughter yoga sessions encompassed clapping and warm-up exercises, diaphragmatic breathing techniques, incorporation of elements fostering childlike joy and playfulness, as well as guided laughter exercises.

Treatment:

Other: Laughter yoga

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Thirty-two mothers who met the inclusion criteria constituted the control group. No intervention was administered to the control group. Since the laughter yoga sessions were conducted in a closed environment, the risk of transmission through sound and visual contact was prevented.