Researchers: Fatima Hashem Darwesh, Moaid Ismail Jarjis

Department: Psychological and Educational Counseling, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Academic year: 2023–2024, Published: February 2025 in Zanco Journal of Human Sciences

Why Was This Study Done?

College students today experience high stress due to:

Academic pressure, Financial worries, Social and emotional challenges

Chronic stress reduces happiness and affects mental and physical health.
The researchers wanted to check whether Laughter Yoga, a simple group-based practice, could: Reduce stress, Increase psychological happiness

Objectives of the Study

1. To design a Laughter Yoga program
2. To check whether Laughter Yoga:
   • Reduces stress
   • Increases psychological happiness
3. To see whether the benefits last even after the program ends

Who Participated in the Study?

Total participants: 15 college students

Group type: Experimental group only

Selection criteria: High stress levels, Low psychological happiness

Year of study: Third-year college students

Research Design

Type: Quasi-experimental (before–after study) Measurements taken:

Before Laughter Yoga (Pre-test), After Laughter Yoga (Post-test),  50 days later (Follow-up test)

Laughter Yoga Protocol

• Duration: 4 weeks
• Sessions: 8 sessions (2 per week)
• Session length: 1 hour
• Content included:
  • Clapping and breathing
  • Simulated laughter exercises
  • Laughter games
  • Group interaction
  • Relaxation and cool-down

Tools Used for Measurement

Stress Scale: Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (13 items)

Psychological Happiness Scale: Hills & Argyle Happiness Scale (28 items)

Key Results

A. Stress Levels (Experimental Group)

Test        Mean Stress Score

Pre-test    31.27

Post-test   19.73

Stress reduced significantly after Laughter Yoga

B. Psychological Happiness

Test        Mean Happiness Score

Pre-test   61.27

Post-test  71.53

Happiness increased significantly after Laughter Yoga        

C. Follow-Up Results (After 50 Days)

• Stress reduction was maintained
• Happiness levels remained higher than before
• Shows long-term benefit, not just temporary effect

Conclusion

This scientific study clearly proves that:

• Laughter Yoga significantly reduces stress
• Laughter Yoga significantly increases psychological happiness
• Benefits continue even after the program ends
• Laughter Yoga is safe, low-cost, group-friendly, and effective for college students

This research strongly supports the idea that “you don’t have to wait to be happy to laugh — you can laugh first and become happy.”