Aim: We conducted this randomized controlled study to determine the effect of laughter yoga practiced by first year nursing students before clinical practice on their perceptions of stress and meaning of life.

Background: Laughter yoga has a positive effect on the person's mental/general health, life satisfaction and psychological well-being and enables the person to cope with stress.

Design: In this experimental randomized and controlled study including a control group, we administered a pre-test, post-test one and post-test two to the participating students.

Methods: We conducted the study with 45 first year nursing students in the intervention group, and 45 first year nursing students in the control group. The students in the intervention group took part in eight sessions of laughter yoga for four weeks, twice a week. We used the Descriptive Information Form, Perceived Stress Scale, and Meaning and Purpose of Life Scale to collect the study data.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Who did not have any diagnosed psychiatric diseases,
• Who had not done laughter yoga and / or did not have any clinical experience previously were included

Exclusion Criteria:

• Who withdrew from the study at any stage,
• Those who did not participate in the yoga sessions regularly
• Those who used another relaxation method during this period,
• Those who took antidepressants,
• Those who had a chronic cough and / or urinary incontinence,
• Those who underwent surgery in the last 3 months (abdominal surgery, uncontrolled surgery, glaucoma, hernia),
• Those who had neurological diseases such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis,
• Those who were unwilling to participate in the study,
• Those who had neurological disorders,
• Those who lost one of their loved ones in the last 6 months were excluded from the research.