Authors: Aida Kheirandish, Simin Hosseinian, Elham Kheirandish, and Sahel Ahmadi
Affiliations: Department of Counselling, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Published: January 2015 in the Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences.

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that affects young adults, often leading to significant physical and psychological challenges, including high levels of stress and depression. This research aimed to investigate the impact of Laughter Yoga—a practice that combines laughter exercises with yoga techniques—on reducing these negative emotional states among MS patients.

Objectives

The main objectives of the study were:

1. To assess the effectiveness of Laughter Yoga techniques in reducing depression in MS patients.
2. To determine the impact on feelings of failure among MS patients.
3. To evaluate the effect on aggression levels in MS patients.
4. To analyze the overall stress reduction in MS patients participating in Laughter Yoga.

Methodology

Participants: The study involved 30 MS patients selected from a larger group of 234 members of the Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2014, using convenience sampling.

Design: It was a quasi-experimental study with two groups: an experimental group that participated in Laughter Yoga sessions and a control group that did not receive any intervention.

Intervention: The experimental group attended 10 sessions of Laughter Yoga, each lasting 30 minutes, conducted twice a week. The sessions included a variety of laughter exercises, deep breathing, and yoga techniques.

Assessment Tools:

Beck Depression Inventory for measuring levels of depression.

Stress Response Inventory (SRI) to evaluate stress levels, focusing on the subscales of frustration and aggression.

Outcomes

The study found significant reductions in depression, aggression, and overall stress levels among the patients who participated in Laughter Yoga sessions compared to the control group.

However, there was no notable change in feelings of failure, indicating that while Laughter Yoga effectively alleviates some psychological symptoms of MS, it may not address all aspects of the patients' emotional challenges.

Here is a bar chart that visually represents the outcomes of the study, showing the pre-test and post-test results for depression, failure, aggression, and stress in MS patients. The reduction in scores after the Laughter Yoga intervention indicates improvements, particularly in depression, aggression, and stress.

Conclusion

Laughter Yoga is presented as a beneficial complementary therapy for managing stress and depression in MS patients. The findings support the integration of Laughter Yoga into treatment plans alongside conventional medical treatments to enhance the overall mental well-being of individuals living with MS. The study emphasizes the need for further research to explore the long-term effects of such interventions.

This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting non-drug therapies for mental health, particularly for those with chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis.