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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Apr;27(2):e12924.
doi: 10.1111/ijn.12924. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Effect of laughter yoga on mental symptoms and salivary cortisol levels in first-year nursing students: A randomized controlled trial

Fatma Ozlem Ozturk  1 , Ayfer Tezel  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of laughter yoga on mental symptoms and salivary cortisol levels in first-year nursing students: A randomized controlled trial

Fatma Ozlem Ozturk et al. Int J Nurs Pract. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background: University students are faced with several stress factors affecting their mental health. Therefore, the first year at university is a period that calls for careful attention and research.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of laughter yoga on mental symptoms and cortisol levels in nursing students.

Methods: This study is a randomized controlled study employing a pre-/post-test design with a control group. A total of 75 healthy university students were assigned to the intervention group and control group. The Brief Symptom Inventory was applied to both groups before Session 1 and after Session 8. Saliva samples were taken from the students to measure their cortisol levels before and after each session.

Results: Evaluation of the mean scores obtained from the Brief Symptom Inventory before and after the intervention showed a significant decrease in the scores between groups (P < 0.05). In three out of the eight sessions, there was a significant decrease in the intervention group compared with the control group regarding the mean values of pre-test and post-test salivary cortisol levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Laughter yoga can provide an effective means to help first-year nursing students cope with stress and reduce mental symptoms.

Keywords: cortisol; laughter yoga; mental symptom; nursing; student.

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References

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