The Effect of Laughter Therapy on General Health Status, Sleep Quality, and Stress Level of Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: University students are at a heightened risk for mental health issues. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of laughter therapy on the mental health, sleep quality, and stress levels of nursing students. Methods: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted among first- and second-year nursing students at a university in Turkey between February and May 2021. Block randomization was utilized to assign 70 students (35 in the experimental group and 35 in the control group) to the study. The experimental group participated in eight 45-minute online laughter therapy sessions. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, General Health Questionnaire-28, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Perceived Stress Scale. Mann-Whitney U Test was employed for intergroup comparisons, while the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used for intragroup comparisons. Categorical data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the pre-test scores for the Perceived Stress Scale, General Health Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (p> 0.05). However, post-test scores indicated significant improvements in the experimental group (p<0.001), demonstrating that laughter therapy was effective in enhancing perceived stress, general health status, and sleep quality (r ≅0.50). Conclusion: Laughter therapy has beneficial effects on mental health, sleep quality, and perceived stress. It is recommended that school health nurses integrate laughter therapy into health promotion and protection strategies to increase its utilization.