Laughter yoga activities for older people living in residential aged care homes: A feasibility study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a laughter yoga program on mood and physiological measures (blood pressure and pulse) in older adults living in residential aged care homes.
Results Summary
The study found that laughter yoga significantly improved positive mood and happiness while reducing negative mood in weeks 3 and 6. It also significantly lowered systolic blood pressure in weeks 1 and 6.
Population
Older adults (28 residents) living in residential aged care homes.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (6-week program, frequency not detailed).
Duration
6 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
laughter yoga activities (LY) program | increase | positive mood | older people living in residential aged care homes (RACHs) | - | significantly higher | #1 |
laughter yoga activities (LY) program | increase | happiness | older people living in residential aged care homes (RACHs) | - | significantly higher | #2 |
laughter yoga activities (LY) program | decrease | negative mood | older people living in residential aged care homes (RACHs) | - | significantly lower | #3 |
laughter yoga activities (LY) program | decrease | mean systolic blood pressure | older people living in residential aged care homes (RACHs) | - | significantly lower | #4 |
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a laughter yoga activities (LY) program for older people living in residential aged care homes (RACHs). METHODS: A 6-week LY program was implemented at three RACHs with twenty-eight residents. A pre-post design was used to measure positive and negative affect, happiness, blood pressure and pulse. RESULTS: Post-session mean scores for positive mood, and happiness were significantly higher than pre-session scores in weeks 1, 3 and 6, and the post-session mean negative mood scores were significantly lower than pre-session scores in weeks 3 and 6. Post-session readings for mean systolic blood pressure were significantly lower than pre-session readings in weeks 1 and 6. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the potential for using LY to improve mood and lower blood pressure of older people living in RACHs.