The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Anxiety: A Meta-analysis : Holistic Nursing Practice

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The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Anxiety

A Meta-analysis

Demir Doğan, Melike PhD, MSc, BSc

Author Information

Faculty of Health Sciences, Gümüşhane University, Gümüşhane, Turkey.

Correspondence: Melike Demir Doğan, PhD, MSc, BSc, Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi, Gümüşhane Üniversitesi, Bağlarbaşı Mahallesi 29100, Gümüşhane, GSM: 05334828957, Turkey ([email protected]).

The author has disclosed that she has no significant relationships with, or financial interest in, any commercial companies pertaining to this article.

Holistic Nursing Practice 34(1):p 35-39, January/February 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000363

Abstract

This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of laughter therapy on anxiety. Randomized controlled clinical trials were reviewed on Google Scholar, PubMed, and ISI Web of Sciences databases. Four randomized controlled trials consisting of 157 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Hedge's g test statistics were used to show the common effect between the laughter therapy and control groups in the meta-analysis. Laughter therapy can decrease anxiety levels (standardized mean difference = −1.144; 95% CI, −1.950 to −0.338). Laughter therapy is an effective complementary method to decrease anxiety.

© 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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