Feasibility and Acceptability of Laughter Yoga in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents

NCT06326255 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: LYASD
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a pilot randomised controlled trial to explore the acceptability and feasibility of laughter yoga about anxiety and depression reduction in children with ASD and parenting stress reduction for their parents. Hypotheses of this study include:

1. 1.Laughter yoga is acceptable to children with ASD and their parents.
2. 2.Laughter yoga is feasible for anxiety and depression reduction in children with ASD and parenting stress reduction in their parents.
3. 3.Participants in the experimental group will have significantly more reduction in depression, anxiety and parental stress than those in the wait-list-control group.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Parenting Stress; Depression; Anxiety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Response rate

  The proportion of eligible potential participants that agree to take part in.

  Baseline (immediately before intervention)

• Attrition rate

  The proportion of recruited participants that withdraw from the study at any time.

  3 Months Follow-up (9 months from baseline)

• Attendance rate

  The number and percentage of families attend each laughter yoga session.

  Each laughter yoga session, total 12 time points

• Perception on laughter yoga

  Families in the laughter yoga group will be interviewed to explore their perception of laughter yoga and its benefits.

  Programme end (6 months from Baseline)

• Difficulties in laughter yoga

  Families in the laughter yoga group will be interviewed to explore difficulties when they practiced laughter yoga.

  Programme end (6 months from Baseline)

• Safety issues

  Families in the laughter yoga group will be interviewed and explore any discomfort during or after the laughter yoga.

  Programme end (6 months from Baseline)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Depression

  at baseline (immediately before intervention) , Programme end (6 months from Baseline) and 3-month follow-up (9 months from Baseline)

• Anxiety

  at baseline (immediately before intervention) , Programme end (6 months from Baseline) and 3-month follow-up (9 months from Baseline)

• Parenting Stress

  at baseline (immediately before intervention) , Programme end (6 months from Baseline) and 3-month follow-up (9 months from Baseline)

• Child-parent Relationships

  Programme end (6 months from Baseline)

Study Arms (2)

Laughter Yoga Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention is a laughter yoga program consisting of 12 sessions, two 1-hour sessions per month.

Behavioral: laughter yoga

wait-list-control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will receive the same intervention after the 3-Months Follow-up (T2).

Interventions

laughter yoga BEHAVIORAL

each class, including warm-up exercises, laughter yoga exercises, breathing and a relaxation session and sharing

Laughter Yoga Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 8 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• THE CHILD should:
• aged 8 to 12
• be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (according to either The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) or International Classification of Diseases 11th), and
• able to read and understand Chinese and Cantonese, and
• have a parent (father or mother) participating in this study together.
• THE PARENT should:
• be able to read and understand Chinese and Cantonese, and
• willing to attend the laughter yoga classes with their child, and
• willing to complete the required post-test.

You may not qualify if:

• THE CHILD:
• has recently undergone surgery, or
• has a primary diagnosis not ASD, or
• has an intelligence quotient lower than 70, or
• has been diagnosed low functioning ASD, or
• has severe behavioral problems, or
• is receiving medical treatment for anxiety or depression at the start of the laughter yoga program.
• THE PARENT has:
• recently undergone surgery, or
• been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, or
• no child with ASD is willing to participate in this study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• LAM Chung Yan Hemio: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

Related Links

• The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)
• Official website of Chinese version of the Parenting Stress Index, Fourth Edition Short Form

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Laughter Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Chung Yan Lam

  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 4, 2024
• First Posted: March 22, 2024
• Study Start: March 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)