A recent systematic review has revealed that laughter yoga, an innovative workout combining simulated laughter with deep yogic breathing, has a profound impact on reducing stress and anxiety among nursing students. The study, published in Teaching and Learning in Nursing, examined various trials that explored the effects of laughter yoga on nursing students’ mental health and found consistent evidence supporting its effectiveness as a stress-relief technique.
The research highlights the growing concern about the high levels of stress and anxiety faced by nursing students due to their demanding educational environments. Nursing students often struggle with intense workloads, complex clinical responsibilities, and the pressure to perform well academically. These challenges have been linked to significant mental health issues, including heightened stress and anxiety, which can adversely affect their academic performance and overall well-being.
Laughter yoga, which involves exercises designed to induce laughter regardless of one’s mood, has emerged as a promising intervention. The practice typically includes a combination of laughter exercises, deep breathing, and playful activities, which collectively aim to enhance physical and mental well-being. This systematic review aggregated data from nine different studies, encompassing a total of 598 nursing students, and provided robust evidence of the positive effects of laughter yoga on reducing stress and anxiety levels.
The systematic review included both randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies, most of which reported significant reductions in stress and anxiety among participants who engaged in laughter yoga sessions. The studies utilised various psychological assessment tools, such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42), to measure the outcomes.
Among the key findings, nursing students who participated in laughter yoga reported markedly lower levels of stress and anxiety compared to control groups. The practice was particularly effective in reducing symptoms associated with academic pressure, interpersonal relationships, and clinical challenges, which are common stressors for nursing students.
One of the studies included in the review specifically assessed the impact of online laughter yoga sessions, which became increasingly relevant during the Covid pandemic when face-to-face interactions were limited. This study found that even in a virtual format, laughter yoga was effective in alleviating stress and anxiety, although the results were slightly less pronounced compared to in-person sessions.
The findings of this review suggest that laughter yoga could be a valuable addition to stress management programmes in nursing education. Given its low cost and ease of implementation, laughter yoga presents a practical option for nursing schools looking to support students’ mental health. The review recommends that nursing educators consider incorporating laughter yoga into their curricula as a complementary therapy to traditional stress reduction methods.
The study also underscores the need for further research, particularly randomised controlled trials with larger sample sizes, to strengthen the evidence base for laughter yoga in this context. While the current findings are promising, the review notes that the quality of some included studies was limited, and more rigorous trials are needed to confirm the long-term benefits of laughter yoga for nursing students.
