The Effect of Laughter Yoga on the Anxiety and Stress Levels of Women in the Postpartum Period
Condition: Laughter Yoga
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This research is a randomized controlled study to evaluate the effect of Laughter yoga on the
      anxiety and stress levels of postpartum women. Randomization was provided in the sample
      included in the study, and it was divided into experimental and control groups. At the
      beginning of the study, the Postpartum anxiety scale and the perceived stress scale were
      applied to women in both groups to determine their anxiety and stress levels. Afterwards, 8
      sessions of laughter yoga were applied to the experimental group for 4 weeks. No application
      was made to the control group. After 4 weeks, the Postpartum anxiety scale and the perceived
      stress scale were administered to the women in both groups to re-determine their anxiety and
      stress levels.
    

Detailed description: 
      This research is a randomized controlled study to evaluate the effect of Laughter yoga on the
      anxiety and stress levels of postpartum women. At the beginning of the study, necessary
      ethics committee permission and institutional permissions were obtained. Both of the
      researchers have a certificate of leadership in laughter yoga. As a result of the power
      analysis, it was determined that 128 women should be included in the study. Considering that
      there may be losses, it was decided to include 160 women in the study. By providing
      randomization, 160 women who met the sampling criteria and volunteered to participate in the
      study were divided into two groups as 80 experimental and 80 control. At the beginning of the
      study, the Postpartum anxiety scale and the perceived stress scale were applied to women in
      both groups to determine their anxiety and stress levels. Afterwards, 8 sessions of laughter
      yoga were applied to the experimental group for 4 weeks, two sessions a week. No application
      was made to the control group. After 4 weeks, the Postpartum anxiety scale and the perceived
      stress scale were administered to the women in both groups to re-determine their anxiety and
      stress levels. In the study, 7 women from the experimental group and 9 women from the control
      group were excluded for various reasons. The study was conducted with 73 experimental and 71
      control groups. The process of making analyzes and writing the final report continues. This
      study is financially supported by Atatürk University Scientific Research Coordination Unit.
      In addition, this study is carried out as a master's thesis accepted by Atatürk University
      Health Sciences Institute.
    

Intervention name(s): Experimental: Laughter yoga session parts-1; Experimental: Laughter yoga session parts-2; Experimental: Laughter yoga session parts-3; Experimental: Laughter yoga session parts-4
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Section 1: Deep breathing exercises: A deep breath is taken as far as possible by raising the arms up to the sky. Breathing is held for 4-5 seconds after deep inspiration. Breathing is performed rhythmically and slowly, while the arms are placed in a normal position. After deep inspiration, one can exhale either by forming the lips in the whistling position or by laughing. In each deep breathing exercise technique, the expiration time of the exhalation process should be longer than the inspiration time.; Section 2: Warm-up exercises (10 minutes): Hands are clapped by holding parallel to each other. The fingertips and the palms touch each other, stimulating the acupuncture points on both hands, and the individual's energy level rises. In order to further raise the energy level and synchronize the movements of the group, a rhythm is added in the form of 1-2, 1-2-3. After several rhythmic hand-clapping movements, one more movement is added. Hands are clapped by swinging left and right. Then, an audible rhythm in the form of ho, ho, ha-ha-ha is also added to the hand-clapping movement. People in the group look at each other, and smile.; Section 3: Childish games (10 minutes): Childish games are used that will help to laugh for no reason, just like a child. Imagining these games and plays, the arms are raised upwards in the form of a "Y" with palms facing the sky, motivating the group by saying "very good (clap), very good (clap), yes". The leader of laughter yoga speaks out "very good (clap), very good (clap), hey (arms to the right and left)" to keep the group's energy high and generate enthusiasm in the deep breathing exercises and laughter exercises sections. According to the energy and desire of the group, this section is completed after about 10 minutes.; Section 4: Laughter exercises (15 minutes): This section contains a variety of laughter exercises that will laugh, such as greetings, laughter cream, exploding balloon laughter, preparing and drinking strawberry milk, bonuses, hot soup, lion, aloha, bird, appreciation, elevator, and cream pie. A laugh is raised by doing only laughter exercises for no reason at all. At the end of this section, relaxation is achieved for about three minutes using deep breathing exercises. The group is given verbal guidance "Put your hand on your heart, feel your heartbeat, let's exhale with a smile, make a wish or pray, smile as if we had achieved our wish," and the laughter yoga session is terminated.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: randomized controlled trial
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Laughter Yoga; Postpartum Period; Anxiety; Stress; Nurse