LAUGHTER YOGA THERAPY: EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH OF COVID-19 INFECTED CLIENTS

Abstract

A pretest and post-test experimental research design to measure the effects of laughter yoga therapy on the resiliency, recovery, and mental health of COVID-19 infected clients admitted at the CIU-TTMF. The majority of the participants were males aged 26 to 35 years old, college graduates, and employed. Participants were asked to complete a Pre and Post Intervention Survey using the 5-point Likert scale to measure the immediate effects of Laughter Yoga Therapy. Participants were asked to answer the following: Personal Well-being Index to measure the global life satisfaction, DASS-21 to assess self-reported depressed mood, anxiety, and stress. Participants also rated the Brief Cope Scale to measure resiliency and the post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) scale to measure recovery. The pretest and post-test scores showed a statistically significant resiliency, recovery, and mental health gain. The study was triangulated with FGD using some of the questions from the Psychological Outcomes of Well-being (POWB) as a guide to examine the research problem. As a result of the study, Laughter Yoga Therapy encourages clients to laugh through the body and not through the mind, and experiencing childlike playfulness, affects the recovery, resiliency, and mental health of COVID-19 infected clients.