LaughterNCT06175936
Effect of Laughter Yoga on Nursing Students
A study testing Laugther Yoga in people with Laughter and Stress, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Nursing students experience different levels of stress due to many reasons such as lifestyle, health, academic performance, competition, choice of profession, new living environment, relationships with peer group and expectations of parents. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Laughter, Stress, Well-Being, Psychological
- What is being tested?
- Laugther Yoga
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 16 Oct 2023to 30 Dec 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- To be a 4th year nursing student,
- Volunteer to participate
Who cannot join
- To take part in the intern programme,
- Simultaneous participation in any methods of complementary medicine,
- Having undergone surgery within the last three months,
- Having a diagnosis of hernia (hernia)
- Having a diagnosis of epilepsy
- Uncontrolled diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Laughter Yoga on Nursing Students' Well-Being, Perceived Stress and Academic Self-Efficacy: a Randomised Controlled Study
Nursing students experience different levels of stress due to many reasons such as lifestyle, health, academic performance, competition, choice of profession, new living environment, relationships with peer group and expectations of parents. It is important to develop different coping behaviours/strategies to manage stressful situations. Laughter yoga has proven positive effects on physical and mental health.
The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to examine the effects of laughter yoga on well-being, perceived stress and academic self-efficacy of nursing students.
Read the detailed description
Laughter yoga, which is a combination of laughter and yoga with breathing techniques, is among traditional and complementary medicine practices. Based on the view that the brain cannot distinguish between real and unreal laughter, laughter yoga aims to benefit from the mental and physical benefits of laughter. Laughter yoga has benefits such as reducing stress and depression symptoms, relaxing muscle tone, increasing blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, increasing melatonin and growth hormone release, increasing pain threshold, strengthening the immune system.
Laughter yoga will be applied to the intervention group in 6 sessions (45 minutes each session). Well-being, Perceived Stress and Academic Self-Efficacy levels of the students will be evaluated before and after the intervention.
Hypotheses of the study; H1: The well-being level of the intervention group increases after laughter yoga.
H2: The academic self-efficacy level of the intervention group increases after laughter yoga.
H3: Perceived stress level of the intervention group decreases after laughter yoga.
H4: The well-being level of the intervention group after laughter yoga is higher than the control group.
H5: The perceived stress level of the intervention group after laughter yoga is lower than the control group.
H6: The academic self-efficacy level of the intervention group after laughter yoga is higher than the control group.
- Conditions
- Laughter, Stress, Well-Being, Psychological
- Being tested
- Laugther Yoga
- Keywords
- academic self efficacy, laughter yoga, undergraudate nursing education, well-being, stress
- Medical subject headings
- Laughter, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Laugther YogaOther
Laughter yoga will be applied to the intervention group in 6 sessions (45 minutes each session).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter yoga group | Experimental | Laughter yoga will be applied to the intervention group in 6 sessions (45 minutes each session). Laughter yoga consists of four parts. Firstly, it starts with warm-up exercises including hand clapping (applause), singing "ho ho ha ha" to relax the facial muscles of the participants and body movements. Secondly, the lungs are prepared with breathing exercises and the mind is prepared for laughter with childish games. This is followed by laughter exercises. Deep breathing exercises are performed between laughter exercises. Laughter yoga is concluded with clapping, singing and relaxation exercises. Receives: Other: Laugther Yoga |
| Control group | No intervention | No laughter yoga intervention will be applied to the control group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Well being
The WHO-5 well-being Scale point of the intervention group change laughter yoga.
Measured: 2 weeks post intervention
Academic self-efficcay
The academic self-efficacy point of the intervention group change after laughter yoga.
Measured: 2 weeks post intervention
Stress
The perceived stress scale point of the intervention group change after laughter yoga.
Measured: 2 weeks post intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Well being
The WHO-5 well-being Scale point of the intervention group incresad after laughter yoga.
Measured: 2 weeks post intervention
Academic self-efficacy
Academic self-efficacy Scale point of the intervention group incresad after laughter yoga.
Measured: 2 weeks post intervention
Stress
The perceived stress scale point of the intervention group decreased after laughter yoga.
Measured: 2 weeks post intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Dec 2023
- Study start16 Oct 2023
- Primary completion29 Nov 2023
- Study completion30 Dec 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for LaughterStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Istanbul University - CerrahpasaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Olga Incesu, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Investigators
- Merve Altıner Yaş, Dr, Study director, Dr
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06175936
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Florence Nightingale Faculty-3
- Status last verified
- Sep 2023
- First submitted
- 29 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 20 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Yas MA, Incesu O. The effect of laughter yoga on well-being, perceived stress, and academic self-efficacy in nursing students: A randomized controlled trial. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2025 Feb;17(1):e12610. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12610. Epub 2024 Oct 16.
PubMed 39415513
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Laughter Yoga on Nursing Students' Well-Being, Perceived Stress and Academic Self-Efficacy: a Randomised Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06175936
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Florence Nightingale Faculty-3
- Conditions
- Laughter, Stress, Well-Being, Psychological
- Keywords
- academic self efficacy, laughter yoga, undergraudate nursing education, well-being, stress
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - CerrahpasaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Nursing students experience different levels of stress due to many reasons such as lifestyle, health, academic performance, competition, choice of profession, new living environment, relationships with peer group and expectations of parents. It is important to develop different coping behaviours/strategies to manage stressful situations. Laughter yoga has proven positive effects on physical and mental health.
The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to examine the effects of laughter yoga on well-being, perceived stress and academic self-efficacy of nursing students.
Detailed description
Laughter yoga, which is a combination of laughter and yoga with breathing techniques, is among traditional and complementary medicine practices. Based on the view that the brain cannot distinguish between real and unreal laughter, laughter yoga aims to benefit from the mental and physical benefits of laughter. Laughter yoga has benefits such as reducing stress and depression symptoms, relaxing muscle tone, increasing blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, increasing melatonin and growth hormone release, increasing pain threshold, strengthening the immune system.
Laughter yoga will be applied to the intervention group in 6 sessions (45 minutes each session). Well-being, Perceived Stress and Academic Self-Efficacy levels of the students will be evaluated before and after the intervention.
Hypotheses of the study; H1: The well-being level of the intervention group increases after laughter yoga.
H2: The academic self-efficacy level of the intervention group increases after laughter yoga.
H3: Perceived stress level of the intervention group decreases after laughter yoga.
H4: The well-being level of the intervention group after laughter yoga is higher than the control group.
H5: The perceived stress level of the intervention group after laughter yoga is lower than the control group.
H6: The academic self-efficacy level of the intervention group after laughter yoga is higher than the control group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter yoga group | Experimental | Other: Laugther YogaLaughter yoga will be applied to the intervention group in 6 sessions (45 minutes each session). Laughter yoga consists of four parts. Firstly, it starts with warm-up exercises including hand clapping (applause), singing "ho ho ha ha" to relax the facial muscles of the participants and body movements. Secondly, the lungs are prepared with breathing exercises and the mind is prepared for laughter with childish games. This is followed by laughter exercises. Deep breathing exercises are performed between laughter exercises. Laughter yoga is concluded with clapping, singing and relaxation exercises. |
| Control group | No intervention | –No laughter yoga intervention will be applied to the control group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- To be a 4th year nursing student,
- Volunteer to participate
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- To take part in the intern programme,
- Simultaneous participation in any methods of complementary medicine,
- Having undergone surgery within the last three months,
- Having a diagnosis of hernia (hernia)
- Having a diagnosis of epilepsy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Laugther YogaLaughter yoga will be applied to the intervention group in 6 sessions (45 minutes each session). | Other | Laughter yoga group |
Primary outcome
Well being
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
The WHO-5 well-being Scale point of the intervention group change laughter yoga.
Academic self-efficcay
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
The academic self-efficacy point of the intervention group change after laughter yoga.
Stress
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
The perceived stress scale point of the intervention group change after laughter yoga.
3 secondary outcomes
Well being
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Academic self-efficacy
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Stress
Time frame: 2 weeks post intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Mar 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39415513Yas MA, Incesu O. The effect of laughter yoga on well-being, perceived stress, and academic self-efficacy in nursing students: A randomized controlled trial. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2025 Feb;17(1):e12610. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12610. Epub 2024 Oct 16.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Merve Altıner Yaş, Dr study director
Dr
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Laugther Yoga in people with Laughter and Stress, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Well being (time frame: 2 weeks post intervention). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06175936, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Mar 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.