J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2021 Aug;28(3):297-310. 10.7739/jkafn.2021.28.3.297.

The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Sleep in Community-dwelling Elders with Sleep Disorders

• Lee YS
• Park H

• KMID: 2519684
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2021.28.3.297

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of laughter therapy on the quality and quantity of sleep in elders with sleep disorders.
Methods
This was a quasi-experimental study using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design with 59 participants and included elders with sleep disorders, The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores of five or more points were: 29 in the experiment group and 30 in the control group. The experimental group participated in laughter therapy sixteen times, twice a week for 50 min per session for 8 weeks.
Results
The results showed that laughter therapy was effective according to the PSQI (F=86.13, p<.001), total sleep time (F=9.34, p<.001), sleep efficiency (F=45.34, p<.001), sleep onset latency in the experimental group x²=13.77, p=.001, and in the control group x²=11.95, p=.003), number of awakenings (F=31.21, p<.001), light sleep (F=5.09, p=.008), deep sleep (F=15.13, p<.001), and serum melatonin levels (Z=-3.90, p<.001). but rapid eye movement sleep time did not differ significantly between the groups.
Conclusion
The results of the study indicate that laughter therapy may be an effective nursing intervention to improve quantity and quality of sleep in community-dwelling elderly.

Keyword

Aged; Laughter therapy; Melatonin; Sleep; 노인, 웃음요법, 멜라토닌, 수면