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

NCT ID: NCT07119164

Last Updated: 2025-08-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 64 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-15
• Study Completion Date: 2025-05-15

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

"Laughter yoga intervention group

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Laughter yoga

Intervention Type: OTHER

Laughter yoga is a mind-body practice that combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing techniques (known as pranayama). Developed by Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995, the practice is based on the principle that voluntary laughter can provide similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. It is typically conducted in group sessions involving eye contact, playful behavior, and laughter exercises, which aim to reduce stress, enhance mood, and promote overall well-being.

Control group

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.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Laughter yoga

Laughter yoga is a mind-body practice that combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing techniques (known as pranayama). Developed by Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995, the practice is based on the principle that voluntary laughter can provide similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. It is typically conducted in group sessions involving eye contact, playful behavior, and laughter exercises, which aim to reduce stress, enhance mood, and promote overall well-being.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Pamukkale University scientific research project department

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Pamukkale University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Burcu Bakırlıoğlu

Research Assistant (PhD Candidate)

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Pamukkale Üniversitesi

Denizli, Kınıklı, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

PamukkaleU-SBE-BB-02

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id