The Effect of Online Laughter Yoga Combined With Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety Among Nursing StudentsNCT07785713
Effects of Online Laughter Yoga and Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety in Nursing Students
A study testing Laughter Yoga Programme and Psychoeducational Programme in people with The Effect of Online Laughter Yoga Combined With Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety Among Nursing Students, run by Okan University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
.This randomized controlled study evaluated the effects of online laughter yoga and a structured psychoeducational program on perceived stress and career anxiety among nursing students undertaking clinical placements. The study employed a three-arm, randomized, controlled pre-test-post-test design. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- The Effect of Online Laughter Yoga Combined With Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety Among Nursing Students
- What is being tested?
- Laughter Yoga Programme and Psychoeducational Programme
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 18 May 2026to 10 Jul 2026
- 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 Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Be a student on the nursing programme
- Be aged 18 or over
- Agree to participate in the study on a voluntary basis
- Have internet access and a suitable device (mobile phone/computer) to take part in the online sessions
- Complete the data collection tools in full
Who cannot join
- Failure to attend sessions regularly during the study
- Filling in data collection forms incompletely or incorrectly
- Being in another psychoeducation or stress reduction program at the same time
- Having a psychiatric diagnosis and being actively receiving treatment
- Wishing to withdraw from the research during the study period
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Online Laughter Yoga and Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety in Nursing Students: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial
.This randomized controlled study evaluated the effects of online laughter yoga and a structured psychoeducational program on perceived stress and career anxiety among nursing students undertaking clinical placements.
The study employed a three-arm, randomized, controlled pre-test-post-test design. A total of 60 nursing students were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to the laughter yoga, psychoeducation, or control group, with 20 participants in each group. Both active interventions were delivered online twice weekly for four weeks.
Read more
Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Short Form of the Adult Career Concerns Scale. Changes in perceived stress and career anxiety over time were evaluated across the three study groups. The primary statistical analysis used a linear mixed-effects model, with supplementary analyses including mixed-effects analysis of variance, post-hoc comparisons, and analysis of covariance.
Keywords: laughter yoga, psychoeducation, psychiatric nursing, nursing students
- Being tested
- Laughter Yoga Programme, Psychoeducational Programme
- Keywords
- laughter yoga, psychoeducation, psychiatric nursing, nursing students
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Laughter Yoga ProgrammeBehavioural
The programme began with an introductory session and basic techniques, followed by intermediate-level laughter exercises, energy-boosting activities, group interaction and emotional release exercises; it concluded with consolidation and closing sessions. The content consisted of a combination of deep yoga breathing exercises and unconditional (unprompted) laughter techniques.
Psychoeducational ProgrammeBehavioural
A structured psychoeducational programme delivered online over 4 weeks, comprising 2 sessions per week (8 sessions in total, 40-60 minutes per session), covering the topics of stress, coping strategies, emotion regulation and career awareness.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter Yoga | Experimental | Participants took part in an online (via Google Meet) laughter yoga programme comprising a total of 8 sessions, held twice a week over a period of 4 weeks. Each session lasted 30-40 minutes; the programme began with an introduction and basic techniques, continued with intermediate-level exercises, energy-boosting activities, group interaction and emotional release exercises, and concluded with consolidation and closing sessions. The content included breathing exercises and structured laughter techniques. Receives: Behavioral: Laughter Yoga Programme |
| Psychoeducation | Experimental | Participants took part in a structured online psychoeducation programme (via Google Meet) comprising a total of 8 sessions over 4 weeks, at a rate of 2 sessions per week. Each session lasted 40-60 minutes; the programme covered the concepts of stress, coping strategies, emotion regulation and career awareness. Receives: Behavioral: Psychoeducational Programme |
| Control group | No intervention | The control group continued with their routine training and clinical practice without receiving any additional intervention during the study period. For ethical reasons, they were also offered the intervention programme on a voluntary basis once the study had been completed. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Perceived Stress Scale
The Perceived Stress Scale is a 10-item scale assessing perceived stress during the previous month. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress.
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks after the start of the intervention
Secondary outcomes (1)
Adult Career Anxiety Scale - Short Form
A 9-item scale assessing career anxiety across four subdimensions: Exploration, Establishment, Maintenance, and Disengagement. The total score ranges from 9 to 45, with higher scores indicating higher levels of career anxiety.
Measured: Baseline (pre-test) and at the end of the 4-week intervention (post-test)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Aug 2026
- Study start18 May 2026
- Primary completion12 Jun 2026
- Study completion10 Jul 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for The Effect of Online Laughter Yoga Combined With Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety Among Nursing StudentsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned via computer-generated block randomization to three parallel groups (Laughter Yoga, Psychoeducation, Control) in a 1:1:1 ratio, with each group receiving its intervention concurrently.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Okan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Raife Aşık, Okan University
- Investigators
- Raife 1 Aşık, 1, Principal investigator, Okan UniversityRaife AŞIK, 1, Principal investigator, Okan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07785713
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 203
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 25 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The individual participant data collected in this study will not be shared in order to protect participant confidentiality. The data are reported solely at the level of the summary/aggregated statistics presented in the published article.
Publications
Şahin, S., Özaydın, S., & Siyez, D. M. (2019). Yetişkin Kariyer Endişeleri Ölçeği Kısa Formu: Türkçeye uyarlama, geçerlik ve güvenilirlik çalışması. Kariyer Psikolojik Danışmanlığı Dergisi, 2(2), 166-193.
Perrone, K.M., Gordon, P.A., Fitch, J.C. and Civiletto, C.L. (2003), the adult career concerns inventory: Development of a short form. Journal of Employment Counseling, 40: 172-180. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2003.tb00868.x
Kaya C, Tansey TN, Melekoglu M, Cakiroglu O, Chan F. Psychometric evaluation of Turkish version of the Perceived Stress Scale with Turkish college students. J Ment Health. 2019 Apr;28(2):161-167. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2017.1417566. Epub 2017 Dec 20.
PubMed 29260926Kaya KC, Ozkan CG, Agis D. Effects of laughter yoga practiced by the first year nursing students before clinical practice on their perceptions of stress and meaning of life: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nurs. 2025 Jan 11;24(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-02642-0.
PubMed 39799345Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.
PubMed 6668417
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Online Laughter Yoga and Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety in Nursing Students: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07785713
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 203
- Keywords
- laughter yoga, psychoeducation, psychiatric nursing, nursing students
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Okan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 18 May 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Jul 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Aug 2026 (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.
.This randomized controlled study evaluated the effects of online laughter yoga and a structured psychoeducational program on perceived stress and career anxiety among nursing students undertaking clinical placements.
The study employed a three-arm, randomized, controlled pre-test-post-test design. A total of 60 nursing students were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to the laughter yoga, psychoeducation, or control group, with 20 participants in each group. Both active interventions were delivered online twice weekly for four weeks.
Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Short Form of the Adult Career Concerns Scale. Changes in perceived stress and career anxiety over time were evaluated across the three study groups. The primary statistical analysis used a linear mixed-effects model, with supplementary analyses including mixed-effects analysis of variance, post-hoc comparisons, and analysis of covariance.
Keywords: laughter yoga, psychoeducation, psychiatric nursing, nursing students
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned via computer-generated block randomization to three parallel groups (Laughter Yoga, Psychoeducation, Control) in a 1:1:1 ratio, with each group receiving its intervention concurrently.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter Yoga | Experimental | Behavioral: Laughter Yoga ProgrammeParticipants took part in an online (via Google Meet) laughter yoga programme comprising a total of 8 sessions, held twice a week over a period of 4 weeks. Each session lasted 30-40 minutes; the programme began with an introduction and basic techniques, continued with intermediate-level exercises, energy-boosting activities, group interaction and emotional release exercises, and concluded with consolidation and closing sessions. The content included breathing exercises and structured laughter techniques. |
| Psychoeducation | Experimental | Behavioral: Psychoeducational ProgrammeParticipants took part in a structured online psychoeducation programme (via Google Meet) comprising a total of 8 sessions over 4 weeks, at a rate of 2 sessions per week. Each session lasted 40-60 minutes; the programme covered the concepts of stress, coping strategies, emotion regulation and career awareness. |
| Control group | No intervention | –The control group continued with their routine training and clinical practice without receiving any additional intervention during the study period. For ethical reasons, they were also offered the intervention programme on a voluntary basis once the study had been completed. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Be a student on the nursing programme
- Be aged 18 or over
- Agree to participate in the study on a voluntary basis
- Have internet access and a suitable device (mobile phone/computer) to take part in the online sessions
- Complete the data collection tools in full
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Failure to attend sessions regularly during the study
- Filling in data collection forms incompletely or incorrectly
- Being in another psychoeducation or stress reduction program at the same time
- Having a psychiatric diagnosis and being actively receiving treatment
- Wishing to withdraw from the research during the study period
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter Yoga ProgrammeThe programme began with an introductory session and basic techniques, followed by intermediate-level laughter exercises, energy-boosting activities, group interaction and emotional release exercises; it concluded with consolidation and closing sessions. The content consisted of a combination of deep yoga breathing exercises and unconditional (unprompted) laughter techniques. | Behavioural | Laughter Yoga |
| Psychoeducational ProgrammeA structured psychoeducational programme delivered online over 4 weeks, comprising 2 sessions per week (8 sessions in total, 40-60 minutes per session), covering the topics of stress, coping strategies, emotion regulation and career awareness. | Behavioural | Psychoeducation |
Primary outcome
Perceived Stress Scale
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after the start of the intervention
The Perceived Stress Scale is a 10-item scale assessing perceived stress during the previous month. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress.
1 secondary outcome
Adult Career Anxiety Scale - Short Form
Time frame: Baseline (pre-test) and at the end of the 4-week intervention (post-test)
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 25 Aug 2026.
- BackgroundŞahin, S., Özaydın, S., & Siyez, D. M. (2019). Yetişkin Kariyer Endişeleri Ölçeği Kısa Formu: Türkçeye uyarlama, geçerlik ve güvenilirlik çalışması. Kariyer Psikolojik Danışmanlığı Dergisi, 2(2), 166-193.
- BackgroundPerrone, K.M., Gordon, P.A., Fitch, J.C. and Civiletto, C.L. (2003), the adult career concerns inventory: Development of a short form. Journal of Employment Counseling, 40: 172-180. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2003.tb00868.x
- Background: PubMed 29260926Kaya C, Tansey TN, Melekoglu M, Cakiroglu O, Chan F. Psychometric evaluation of Turkish version of the Perceived Stress Scale with Turkish college students. J Ment Health. 2019 Apr;28(2):161-167. doi: 10.1080/09638237.2017.1417566. Epub 2017 Dec 20.
- Background: PubMed 39799345Kaya KC, Ozkan CG, Agis D. Effects of laughter yoga practiced by the first year nursing students before clinical practice on their perceptions of stress and meaning of life: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nurs. 2025 Jan 11;24(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-02642-0.
- Background: PubMed 6668417Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The individual participant data collected in this study will not be shared in order to protect participant confidentiality. The data are reported solely at the level of the summary/aggregated statistics presented in the published article.
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.
Raife 1 Aşık, 1 principal investigator
Okan University
Raife AŞIK, 1 principal investigator
Okan University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Laughter Yoga Programme and Psychoeducational Programme in people with The Effect of Online Laughter Yoga Combined With Psychoeducation on Perceived Stress and Career Anxiety Among Nursing Students, run by Okan University 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 5 inclusion and 5 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 25 Aug 2026. 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?
Perceived Stress Scale (time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after the start of the intervention). 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 NCT07785713, which also lists 5 linked publications.
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 25 Aug 2026.