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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07340229

Effects of Laughter Yoga in Mothers of PICU Patients

This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of laughter yoga on resilience and coping attitudes in mothers of children hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit. Mothers whose children had been hospitalized for at least one week were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention group participated in structured laughter yoga sessions lasting 15-20 minutes over 3-4 days, while the control group received routine care. Psychological resilience and coping attitudes were assessed using standardized measurement tools. The study aimed to provide evidence for a brief, non-pharmacological intervention to support maternal psychological well-being in PICU settings.

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Key information

Conditions

Laughter Yoga Behavior Communication Laughter Nonverbal Communication

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital

Izmir, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Having a child hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a highly stressful experience for parents, particularly mothers, and is often associated with increased psychological distress, reduced resilience, and ineffective coping strategies. Despite the critical importance of supporting parental mental well-being in PICU settings, there is a lack of evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions that simultaneously target resilience and coping attitudes.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of laughter yoga on resilience and coping attitudes in mothers of children in the pediatric intensive care unit.

A single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted with the mothers of children hospitalized in the PICU for at least one week. Mothers in the intervention group participated in structured laughter yoga sessions lasting 15-20 minutes over 3-4 days, while the control group received routine care only. Data were collected using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and the Coping Attitudes Assessment Scale before and after the intervention.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Mothers aged 18 years or older
  • Ability to read and speak Turkish
  • Having a child hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for at least one week
  • Access to basic communication tools (telephone and/or internet)
  • No previous participation in laughter yoga or a similar intervention

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of a clinically diagnosed severe psychiatric disorder
  • Having a child who was terminally ill or clinically unstable
  • Participation deemed inappropriate by the attending physician

Treatment and study plan

Laughter Yoga

Behavioral

Mothers in the intervention group participated in structured laughter yoga sessions lasting 15-20 minutes, conducted over a period of 3-4 days.

Primary outcomes

  1. Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale

    Time frame: Six months

    The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) was originally developed by Connor and Davidson (2003), subsequently shortened to 10 items by Campbell-Sills and Stein (2007), and adapted to Turkish by Sarıçam (2010). The scale is scored using a five-point Likert-type format (0-4), with higher total scores indicating greater resilience. In the Turkish validity and reliability study, the scale was reported to have a single-factor structure with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.81. In the present study, Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.79 for the pre-test and 0.80 for the post-test.

  2. Coping Attitudes Assessment Scale

    Time frame: six months

    The scale was originally developed by Carver et al. (1989) and adapted into Turkish by Dicle and Ersanlı (2015). The adapted version consists of 32 items and 5 subscales: Self-Help, Approach, Adaptation, Avoidance-Escape, and Self-Punishment. Items are rated on a four-point Likert-type scale, with higher total scores indicating more effective coping attitudes. In the Turkish validity and reliability study, the overall internal consistency coefficient was reported as 0.97, with Cronbach's alpha values for the subscales ranging from 0.96 to 0.99. In the present study, the overall internal consistency of the scale was 0.78 in the pre-test and 0.81 in the post-test, while Cronbach's alpha values for the subscales ranged between 0.79 and 0.82.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Izmir Democracy University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Laughter Yoga on Psychological Resilience and Coping Attitudes in Mothers of Children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 14, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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