Effect of laughter yoga on fatigue, sleep quality and psychological well-being in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial

IF 3 3区医学 Q2 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-26 DOI:10.1016/j.msard.2026.107098

Nurgül Kaplan , Mehtap Tan , Dürdane Aksoy

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and purpose

Symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and impaired psychological well-being are common in individuals Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, studies on the use of laughter yoga, a non-invasive intervention method, are very limited in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of laughter yoga on fatigue, sleep quality and psychological well-being in individuals with MS.

Materials and methods

In this randomized controlled trial, 42 people with MS were randomly assigned to intervention or control group. The intervention group received a total of 12 sessions of laughter yoga. Descriptive Information Form, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS) were used to collect data.

Results

Laughter yoga was associated with improvements in fatigue and sleep outcomes. Fatigue severity decreased substantially in the intervention group (Cohen’s d = 2.785), with no meaningful change observed in the control group. Sleep quality improved in the intervention group, as indicated by reduced Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores (p < 0.001, d = 2.921). Psychological well-being increased within the intervention group (d = -1.505); however, the between-group effect at post-test was small (d = 0.485).

Conclusion

Laughter yoga showed statistically significant results in terms of decreasing fatigue level, increasing sleep quality and psychological well-being in individuals with MS. The findings suggest that laughter yoga is a low-cost and effective complementary psycho-social intervention that can be used in clinical settings within the scope of nursing practice. This intervention offers an evidence-based approach that can be integrated into nursing care to manage fatigue and sleep problems and improve psychological well-being in individuals with MS. For the generalizability of the effects of laughter yoga, studies with larger samples are needed.

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笑瑜伽对多发性硬化症患者疲劳、睡眠质量和心理健康的影响：一项随机对照试验。

背景和目的：疲劳、睡眠障碍和心理健康受损等症状在多发性硬化症（MS）个体中很常见。然而，关于大笑瑜伽这种非侵入性干预方法的研究在文献中非常有限。本研究的目的是评估笑瑜伽对多发性硬化症患者疲劳、睡眠质量和心理健康的影响。材料和方法：在本随机对照试验中，42例多发性硬化症患者随机分为干预组和对照组。干预组总共接受了12次笑声瑜伽。采用描述性信息表、疲劳严重程度量表（FSS）、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（PSQI）和心理健康量表（PWBS）收集数据。结果：笑瑜伽与改善疲劳和睡眠结果有关。干预组疲劳程度显著降低（Cohen’s d = 2.785），对照组无显著变化。干预组的睡眠质量得到改善，匹兹堡睡眠质量指数得分降低（p < 0.001, d = 2.921）。干预组患者的心理幸福感增加（d = -1.505）；但后测组间效应较小（d = 0.485）。结论：笑瑜伽在缓解多发性硬化症患者的疲劳水平、提高睡眠质量和心理健康方面具有显著的统计学效果。研究结果表明，笑瑜伽是一种低成本、有效的心理社会辅助干预方法，可在临床护理实践范围内应用。这种干预提供了一种基于证据的方法，可以整合到护理中，以管理疲劳和睡眠问题，改善多发性硬化症患者的心理健康。为了使笑瑜伽的效果具有普遍性，需要进行更大样本的研究。

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来源期刊

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders CLINICAL NEUROLOGY-

CiteScore

5.80

自引率

20.00%

发文量

814

审稿时长

66 days

期刊介绍： Multiple Sclerosis is an area of ever expanding research and escalating publications. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders is a wide ranging international journal supported by key researchers from all neuroscience domains that focus on MS and associated disease of the central nervous system. The primary aim of this new journal is the rapid publication of high quality original research in the field. Important secondary aims will be timely updates and editorials on important scientific and clinical care advances, controversies in the field, and invited opinion articles from current thought leaders on topical issues. One section of the journal will focus on teaching, written to enhance the practice of community and academic neurologists involved in the care of MS patients. Summaries of key articles written for a lay audience will be provided as an on-line resource. A team of four chief editors is supported by leading section editors who will commission and appraise original and review articles concerning: clinical neurology, neuroimaging, neuropathology, neuroepidemiology, therapeutics, genetics / transcriptomics, experimental models, neuroimmunology, biomarkers, neuropsychology, neurorehabilitation, measurement scales, teaching, neuroethics and lay communication.