• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.230-236
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• 2013

Purpose: In this study, the effects of laughter therapy on a laughter index, cortisol and immunoglobulin of middle aged women were examined. Methods: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group pre/post-test design were used. The participants (n=54) included 27 in the experimental group and 27 in the control group. The data were collected from February through March of 2013. The experimental group participated in laughter therapy for 40 minutes per session, five times a week for a period of 2 weeks. The tool was used to measure pre/post-test laughter index, cortisol and immunoglobulin of middle aged women. Results: The results showed that laughter therapy was effective in increasing the laughter index (p<.001), and immunoglobulin IgA (p<.001), IgG (p<.001), and IgM (p=.010). Also, the stress hormone, cortisol of middle aged women decreased but non-significantly (p=.158). Conclusion: The result of the study indicates that laughter therapy may have an influence on nursing intervention and treatment effects to improve the laughter index and immunoglobulin of middle aged women.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2014

Purse: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a laughter therapy on mental health promoting like depression, laughing index of elderly. Methods: The study was conducted based on the non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participations included 12 older adults in the control group and 11 in the experiment group. Data was collected from October 1 to November 22, 2013. Experimental group participated in laughter therapy six times, once a week for 60 minutes of each session. Questionnaires were used to measure pretest and posttest levels of depression and laughing index. Results: At the end of six-week intervention, depression score (z=-2.95 p=.003) and laughter index score (z=-2.81 p=.005) was significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Futhermore, there was a significant difference in the depression scores of the experiment group at the posttest, but no signigicant difference was found between the two groups. Conclusion: The study results suggest that the laughter therapy is an effective intervention to reduce the depression but helpful to enhance the laughing index. Therefore, it is expected that laughter therapy will serve as an emotional nursing intervention for elderly patients with depression.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate Laughter Index, depression and anxiety in middle-aged women. Method: The data were collected from 622 middle-aged women by means of structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis by SPSS version 10. Results: The measuring of respondents' laughter index revealed they scored an average of 94.75 (${\pm}16.13$) of the full score 150. The measuring of respondents' depression showed they marked an average of 42.69 (${\pm}7.72$) of the full score 80. The measuring of respondents' anxiety showed they marked an average of 42.03 (${\pm}9.48$) of the full score 80. Respondents statistically showed the significant difference in their laughter index depending on age(t=.917, p=.000), and economic status(F=21.710, p=.000). Respondents statistically revealed the significant difference in depression depending on religion(F=3.396, p=.018), economic status(F=13.660, p=.000). Respondents statistically revealed the significant difference in anxiety depending on religion(F=5.557, p=.001), economic status(F=16.79, p=.000). The laughter index related to depression and anxiety in middle-aged women were significantly correlated. Conclusion: This study showed that laughter index in middle-aged women was correlated negatively depression and anxiety. Further research is regarded as necessary to evaluate and to compare effects of laughter with physical health status.