Authors and Affiliations:
Saba Ghafarian – PhD Student, University of Tehran, Iran
Mahmoud Sheikh – Associate Professor, University of Tehran, Iran
Elaheh Arab-Ameri – Assistant Professor, University of Tehran, Iran
Study Period:
Conducted from August 8, 2020, to November 17, 2020.
Objectives:
Primary Goal:
To assess whether Laughter Yoga (LY) and Sensory-Motor Exercises (SME) could:
Reduce anxiety
Improve gross motor skills in high-functioning children with autism.
Why this Study?
Children with autism often experience poor motor coordination and high anxiety levels, which hinder their daily functioning. The researchers aimed to test interventions that could improve both these areas effectively.
Methodology:
Participants:
Total Participants: 45 boys
Age Group: 7–10 years
Condition: High-functioning autism
Grouping:
Group 1: Laughter Yoga (LY) – 15 children
Group 2: Sensory-Motor Exercises (SME) – 15 children
Group 3: Combined Intervention (LY + SME) – 15 children
Design:
Experimental Design:
Semi-random sampling.
Pre-test and post-test comparison.
Parents were involved to monitor progress.
Session Details:
Duration: 45 minutes per session.
Frequency: 24 sessions conducted.
Interventions:
Group 1 – Laughter Yoga (LY)
Activities:
Ice-breaking warm-ups.
Breathing exercises.
Playful laughter techniques.
Relaxation exercises.
Eye contact practice to improve social interactions.
Focus: Reducing anxiety through laughter-induced emotional release.
Group 2 – Sensory-Motor Exercises (SME)
Activities:
Balance exercises (e.g., walking on lines).
Coordination games with balls and ropes.
Motor-planning tasks (e.g., obstacle courses).
Focus: Enhancing gross motor coordination and sensory integration.
Group 3 – Combined Approach (LY + SME)
Combination of both programs.
Assessments:
Anxiety Measurement:
Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale – parent-reported anxiety levels.
Motor Skills Measurement:
Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) – standardized motor skill
Key Results:
1. Anxiety Reduction
Laughter Yoga Group:
Pre-test: 50 points. Post-test: 37.25 points. Reduction: 25.5%
Sensory-Motor Group:
Pre-test: 50 points Post-test: 43.7 points. Reduction: 12.6%
Combined Group:
Pre-test: 50 points Post-test: 36.1 points. Reduction: 27.7%
Motor Skills Improvement
Laughter Yoga Group:
Pre-test: 50 points. Post-test: 56.55 points. Improvement: 13.1%
Sensory-Motor Group:
Pre-test: 50 points. Post-test: 56.3 points. Improvement: 12.6%
Combined Group:
Pre-test: 50 points. Post-test: 66.8 points. Improvement: 33.6%
Conclusions:
- Laughter Yoga and Sensory-Motor Exercises significantly improved both anxiety levels and motor skills in children with high-functioning autism.
- Combined Group (Laughter Yoga + Sensory-Motor Activities) showed the most effective results in both areas, highlighting the benefit of a multi-approach intervention.
- These interventions provide non-medical, enjoyable, and practical solutions for managing anxiety and improving motor function.
Practical Applications:
- For Parents: Encouraging children to participate in laughter-based and motor activities can help manage anxiety and improve coordination.
- For Therapists/Educators: Incorporating fun and structured exercises into therapy programs may enhance results.
- For Researchers: This study sets a foundation for further exploration of non-pharmacological therapies for autism.
Reference
Here is link for the published article
https://sid.ir/paper/390234/en