The Effect Of Laughter Yoga and Emotional Freedom Technique on Anxiety in Pregnant Women

NCT07449013 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KırklareliED-5
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research was designed as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effects of laughter yoga and emotional freedom techniques(EFT) on anxiety in pregnant women.

Conditions

Anxiety; Pregnancy

Keywords

Anxiety; Pregnancy; Laughter Yoga; Emotional Freedom Technique

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale

  This scale, developed by Spielberg in 1973, consists of 20 questions. It is a 4-point Likert type scale (1=not at all, 4=very much). The lowest score that can be obtained from the scale is 20, and the highest score is 80. The higher the score is, the higher the anxiety level is. The alpha value of the scale is 0.86-.92.33. The validity and reliability study in our country was conducted by Oner et al., in 1983 and the alpha value was found between. The scale that will be used to evaluate the state and trait anxiety of pregnant women. As the score increases, it is determined that the anxiety is higher.

  between six to twelve months

• Introductory Information Form

  A form that includes questions about women's socio-demographic and pregnancy and characteristics.

  between six to twelve months

• Pregnancy-related anxiety scale(PrAS)

  This scale was originally developed by Brunton, and its Turkish validity and reliability were established by Solt and Gul. It is used to evaluate pregnancy-related anxiety. Higher total scores, as well as higher scores across its nine subscales, indicate greater levels of anxiety in pregnant women.It will be used to assess pregnancy-related anxiety.

  between six to twelve months

Study Arms (3)

Laughter yoga group

EXPERIMENTAL

Laughter yoga will be applied to pregnant women with anxiety during pregnancy.

Other: Laughter yoga

Emotional freedom technique(EFT) group

EXPERIMENTAL

Emotional freedom technique will be applied to pregnant women with anxiety during pregnancy.

Other: Emotional freedom technique

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will consist of people who do not routinely do any practice on their own to reduce anxiety symptoms.

Interventions

Laughter yoga OTHER

Pregnant women in the laughter yoga group will undergo a total of six sessions over two weeks, three times a week, with each session lasting an average of 40-50 minutes. The laughter yoga programme consists of the following: hand clapping and warm-up exercises, deep breathing exercises, childlike games, laughter exercises and laughter meditation.

Also known as: Laughter therapy

Laughter yoga group

Emotional freedom technique OTHER

Pregnant women in the emotional freedom technique group will undergo a total of six sessions over two weeks, three times a week, with each session lasting an average of 40-50 minutes.The emotional freedom technique application consists of the following sections: Identifying the Problem, Grading the Problem, Creating the Setup Phrase, Applying Tapping, Evaluating the Result.

Also known as: Emotional freedom techniques

Emotional freedom technique(EFT) group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• For the laughter yoga group: Pregnant women who are willing to participate in the study, can read and understand Turkish, are aged 18 or over, have scored 37 or above on the STAI, have a spontaneous pregnancy, are in their second or third trimester, and have not previously practised laughter yoga.
• For the emotional freedom technique(EFT) group: Pregnant women who are willing to participate in the study, can read and understand Turkish, are aged 18 or over, have scored 37 or above on the STAI, have a spontaneous pregnancy, are in their second or third trimester, have not previously undergone EFT, and have no infections, wounds, scars, etc. in the tapping areas where EFT will be applied.
• For the control group: Pregnant women who volunteered to participate in the study, can read and understand Turkish, are aged 18 or over, scored 37 or above on the STAI, have a spontaneous pregnancy, are in their second or third trimester, and have not previously practised laughter yoga or EFT.

You may not qualify if:

• For the laughter yoga group: Those wishing to continue working, those diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy, those with chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, etc.), those with psychiatric illnesses and/or undergoing psychiatric treatment (pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy), those with any issues that prevent communication (such as impaired hearing, speech, or comprehension), those using pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods to reduce anxiety, those who have undergone abdominal surgery in the last three months, and pregnant women with glaucoma, hernia, epilepsy, bleeding haemorrhoids, or heart disease.
• For the EFT and control group: Those who do not wish to continue the study, those diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy, those with chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, etc.), Those with psychiatric disorders and/or undergoing psychiatric treatment (pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy), Those with any condition that impedes communication (such as impaired hearing, speech, or comprehension), Pregnant women using either pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods to reduce anxiety.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kırklareli University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kırklareli Healthy Life Center

Kırklareli, Centre, 39000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Laughter Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Efsun Derin

  Kırklareli University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Randomized controlled clinical trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2026
• First Posted: March 4, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 15, 2026
• Study Completion: May 12, 2026
• Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)