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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07015372

The Effect of Laughter Yoga on Stress, Burnout, and General Health in Psychiatric Nurses

This study aims to examine the effects of laughter yoga on general health, perceived stress, and burnout among psychiatric nurses. Nurses working in psychiatric units are often exposed to high levels of occupational stress, which may impact their well-being and job performance. This trial was designed to evaluate the potential benefits of laughter yoga as a supportive intervention in this context.

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Key information

Conditions

Burnout Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Burnout, Psychological General Health Occupational Diseases Occupational Stress Perceived Stress Psychiatric Nursing Stress, Psychological

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Erenköy Ruh ve Sinir Hastalıkları Hastanesi

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Psychiatric nurses frequently face emotionally intense situations, aggressive patient behaviors, and heavy workloads. These factors are known to contribute to elevated stress levels and burnout.

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial at a psychiatric hospital located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, Türkiye. A total of 70 psychiatric nurses voluntarily participated and were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group (n=35 per group).

The experimental group received an eight-session laughter yoga program, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. Sessions were held face-to-face in small groups and facilitated by a trained laughter yoga instructor. Each session included four components: warm-up and clapping exercises, deep breathing, childlike playfulness, and structured laughter activities. The control group received no intervention during the study period.

Data were collected before and after the intervention using the following validated tools:

Nurse Demographic Information Form

Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28)

The study was approved by the relevant ethics committee, and all participants provided informed consent prior to enrollment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Being a psychiatric nurse at the specified hospital
  • Volunteering to participate
  • Not receiving psychiatric treatment currently

Exclusion criteria

  • Chronic physical illnesses that could interfere
  • Inability to attend all sessions

Treatment and study plan

Laughter Yoga

Behavioral

Laughter yoga intervention including clapping, breathing, childlike play, and laughter exercises, delivered in 8 sessions over 4 weeks to reduce stress and burnout and improve general health among psychiatric nurses.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) Total Score

    Time frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks (post-intervention)

    The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is used to assess burnout levels among psychiatric nurses. Scores range from low to high burnout. A decrease in score indicates reduced burnout. The scale has three subscales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

  2. Change in Perceived Stress Level (PSS-10 Total Score)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4 (post-intervention)

    Perceived stress is measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. A decrease in score reflects improvement.

  3. Change in General Health Status (GHQ-28 Total Score)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4 (post-intervention)

    General health is evaluated using the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), which includes somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression subscales. Total scores range from 0 to 28, with lower scores indicating better general health status.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bezmialem Vakif University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Laughter Yoga on General Health Status, Perceived Stress Level, and Burnout in Psychiatric Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jun 11, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 11, 2025

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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