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

NCT07119164 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PamukkaleU-SBE-BB-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Keywords

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• self-efficacy

  The scale uses a 7-point Likert-type rating system and consists of 17 items. The total score ranges from a minimum of 17 to a maximum of 119. Higher scores indicate higher levels of self-efficacy. The Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.95. When examining the findings related to the reliability and validity of the scale, it was found-contrary to the original version-that the scale has a unidimensional structure. It has been determined to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing the parental self-efficacy levels of mothers and fathers of children with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities in Turkey.

  4 weeks

• burnout

  The items are rated on a 4-point scale based on how frequently participants experience the emotions described in the items, ranging from 0 ("never") to 4 ("every day"). The scale consists of two subdimensions: Emotional Exhaustion and Personal Accomplishment. The Emotional Exhaustion subscale includes 13 items and has a reliability coefficient of 0.80. Higher average scores on this subscale indicate greater levels of burnout. The Personal Accomplishment subscale consists of 8 items, also with a reliability coefficient of 0.80. Unlike the Emotional Exhaustion subscale, lower average scores on the Personal Accomplishment subscale indicate a higher level of experienced burnout.

  4 weeks

• Perceived stress

  The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was calculated as 0.84, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was found to be 0.87. The scale consists of 14 items and is rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The total score obtained from the sum of the items reflects the respondent's perceived level of stress, with higher scores indicating a higher level of perceived stress.

  4 weeks

• stress

  Stress levels were assessed by analyzing salivary cortisol concentrations.

  4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

"Laughter yoga intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Other: Laughter yoga

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

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.

Interventions

Laughter yoga 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.

"Laughter yoga intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pamukkale University: lead
• Pamukkale University scientific research project department: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Pamukkale Üniversitesi

Denizli, Kınıklı, 20160, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Intellectual Disability; Burnout, Psychological

Interventions

Laughter Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant (PhD Candidate)

Model Details: The study includes one intervention group and one control group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2025
• First Posted: August 12, 2025
• Study Start: April 15, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2025
• Study Completion: May 15, 2025
• Last Updated: August 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)