Effect of Laughter Yoga on Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Menopausal Women

Evaluation of the Effects of Laughter Yoga on Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Menopausal Women

This study aims to provide meaningful contributions to both academic literature and clinical nursing practice by examining laughter yoga, a non-pharmacological, evidence-based, and feasible intervention for quality of life and sleep problems commonly encountered during menopause. Menopause is a natural stage of life that can be associated with physical and psychological symptoms affecting daily life. Laughter yoga, a group-based complementary method, is based on the philosophy that "movement creates emotion" and aims to transform voluntary laughter into natural and genuine laughter over time. Laughter yoga consists of clapping and warm-up exercises, childlike games, deep breathing techniques, laughter exercises, and meditation stages. Thanks to its physiological and psychological effects, it supports individuals' overall well-being.

In this study, participants will be divided into two groups: an intervention group and a control group. A pre-test will be administered to both groups to assess menopause symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life. The intervention group will undergo eight sessions of laughter yoga, while the control group will not receive any intervention during the study period. A post-test will be administered to both groups after the intervention to evaluate its effectiveness.

The results of the study are expected to contribute to determining whether laughter yoga is an effective supportive approach during menopause. It is particularly important in terms of establishing a scientific basis for the integration of complementary treatment approaches into the menopause period and ensuring that they can be integrated with nursing care.

This study is designed as a controlled trial involving women in the menopause period, with participants individually randomized using a simple randomization method. The study will be conducted at a family health center affiliated with the Mamak Cultural Center Coordination in Ankara, Turkey.

Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the laughter yoga intervention group or the control group at a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Following the pre-test, the intervention group will receive a total of eight laughter yoga sessions over four weeks, twice a week. No intervention will be administered to the control group during the study period.

Menopause symptoms, sleep quality, and menopause-specific quality of life will be assessed using pre-test and post-test measurements. This study aims to determine the effect of laughter yoga on changes experienced during menopause and on sleep and quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being in the menopause period
• Having sufficient proficiency in understanding and expressing oneself in Turkish
• Agreeing to participate in the study
• Having physical and cognitive competence
• Not having a diagnosis of mental disorder
• Not using hormone therapy or complementary treatments for menopause symptoms

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not participating in laughter yoga sessions
• Withdrawing from the study during the research phase
• Incomplete filling out of data collection forms
• Having contraindications for laughter yoga (Bleeding hemorrhoids, psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, undergoing surgery within the last 3 months, and similar conditions)