The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Sleep in Community-dwelling Elders with Sleep Disorders
10.7739/jkafn.2021.28.3.297
- Author:
Yim Sun LEE
1
;
Hyojung PARK
Author Information
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, The Jinju Health College, Jinju, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamental Nursing
2021;28(3):297-310
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
