Title of article :
Research Paper: The Effect of Laughter Yoga on the Quality of Life of Elderly Nursing Home Residents
Author/Authors :
Rezaei, Sajjad Department of Psychology - Faculty of Literature and Humanities - University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran , Mahfeli, Maryana Department of Psychology - Faculty of Literature and Humanities - University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran , Mousavi, Valiollah Department of Psychology - Faculty of Literature and Humanities - University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran , Poorabolghasem Hosseini, Shimax Department of Psychology - Faculty of Literature and Humanities - University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Old age is associated with the physical and psychological problems that affect the
Quality of Life (QoL).
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Laughter Therapy (LT) on the QoL of
elderly people in nursing homes.
Materials & Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test with
the control and experimental group and one-month follow-up conducted in 2017. The statistical
population consisted of 44 elderly people in the Mehr Aein nursing home in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh
City, Iran. Based on the inclusion criteria, 32 old people were selected and randomly assigned to
experimental (n=16) and control (n=16) groups. The experimental group received an interventional
program consisting of Madan Kataria Laughter Therapy, showing comic films, and reading comic
books for one month, over 12 sessions of 100 minutes. After the end of laughter intervention, the
elderly of both groups responded to the elderly quality of life questionnaire (LIPAD). The obtained
data were analyzed using covariance analysis of repeated measures.
Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to their QoL
(P<0.01). That is, the adjusted mean of the experimental group in the QoL was significantly higher
than the mean of the control group (P<0.01). Also, in the experimental group, the mean follow-up
score was higher than the mean score of the pre-test, which indicates the stability of the intervention
effects after one month (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Laughter Therapy intervention has a positive effect on improving the QoL of the
elderly. Therefore, it is necessary that authorities consider this program at nursing home centers as
a complementary method besides the existing treatments for reducing the mental health problems
and improving the QoL of the elderly.
Keywords :
Quality of Life , Frail elderly , Laughter Therapy
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics