The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Life Satisfaction and Loneliness

The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Life Satisfaction and Loneliness in Older Adults Living in a Nursing Home: A Parallel Group Randomized Control Trial

Life satisfaction and loneliness are two important issues affecting the quality of life of the elderly. Older adults living in nursing homes experience the feeling of loneliness more and their life satisfaction decreases. For this reason, there is a need for an intervention that could increase the life satisfaction of the older adults and decrease their loneliness.

The aim of the research was to examine the effects of laughter therapy on life satisfaction and loneliness in older adults living in a nursing home.

A single-blinded, parallel group randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the impact of laughter therapy on life satisfaction and loneliness in older adults living in a nursing home.

The study was conducted in the only nursing home in Hatay province of Turkey.

The study participants were older adults living in a nursing home. A total of 62 older adults formed the experimental group (n = 31) and the control group (n = 31).

In order to ensure randomization and equal gender distribution, first, two groups (men and women) were formed. After the stratification process, five blocks consisting of six people and one group consisting of four people were formed using the permuted blocked randomization method. After the formation of the blocks, the elderly were randomly assigned to the experimental and the control group using a random number table. The experimental group received laughter therapy twice a week for 6 weeks and the usual care. The control group received only the usual care. To collect data, a personal information form, the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) and the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) were used.

Inclusion Criteria:

• participants had to be 65 or older and be able to maintain independence in daily activities.

Exclusion Criteria:

• having severe hearing or perceptual deficits that impaired communication; having dementia, Alzheimer's disease, depression, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertensive disease and surgical operations with the risk of bleeding.