NCT06722872

The Effect of Laughter Therapy on the Mental Health of Elderly Living in a Nursing Home

Effect of Laughter Therapy on Psychological Well-being, Life Satisfaction and Mental Health of the Elderly Living in a Nursing Home

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 69 (actual)
• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years – 105 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study was designed and conducted as a randomized controlled experimental research with a pre-test and post-test control group to evaluate the effect of laughter therapy on psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health of elderly individuals living in a nursing home.

Detailed description

Among the most important indicators of successful aging are individuals' ability to derive satisfaction from life, maintain cognitive and social competence, sustain mental and physical health, possess a sense of personal control, and experience increased longevity. Supporting elderly individuals to live independently, maintaining their social relationships, and encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors are key to achieving an active and successful aging process. Life satisfaction is considered one of the most significant factors influencing mental health and determining adaptation during all stages of life, particularly in old age. As an indicator of well-being, life satisfaction has a positive correlation with psychological resilience and mental health. Thus, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health of elderly individuals are interconnected, and interventions aimed at enhancing well-being and life satisfaction are known to positively affect the mental health of older adults. In this context, laughter therapy has recently gained attention as an approach with observed positive effects on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals. Laughter therapy, developed by Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995, aims to support physical and mental health through laughter and breathing exercises. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews indicate that laughter therapy has positive psychosocial effects on older adults, including reducing depression, perceived stress, and anxiety, enhancing psychological well-being, regulating blood pressure and cortisol levels, improving sleep and quality of life, reducing death anxiety, loneliness, and depressive tendencies, and increasing happiness, life satisfaction, and mood. Laughter therapy is considered a non-invasive, non-pharmacological, cost-effective, accessible, and easy-to-apply complementary/alternative therapy, with calls for further evidence-based studies to promote its use. Within this framework, the aim of this research is to determine the effect of laughter therapy on the psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health of elderly individuals.

Conditions

• Laughter
• Mental Health Issue
• Life Satisfaction
• Well-Being, Psychological
• Elderly

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Laughter therapy	Laughter therapy, developed by Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995, is a structured exercise program use of laughter and breathing exercises.Laughter therapy sessions begin with warm-up techniques, including clapping, singing, and stretching movements. These are followed by breathing exercises to prepare the lungs for laughter. After the breathing exercises, laughter is simulated using acting techniques. Shortly thereafter, the simulated laughter spreads from person to person through group dynamics, transforming into genuine laughter, which is then followed by a series of laughter exercises. A laughter therapy session may conclude with laughter meditation, during which participants allow natural laughter to flow freely, followed by guided relaxation exercises. To maximize the benefits of laughter's contagious nature, it is recommended that laughter therapy be conducted in groups. Each session varies depending on the target audience, typically lasting around 45 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-04-16
• Primary completion: 2024-05-26
• Completion: 2024-06-26
• First posted: 2024-12-09
• Last updated: 2024-12-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)