Effects of laughter yoga on symptom severity, hope, and life engagement in patients undergoing chemotherapy; a randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of nurse-led laughter yoga intervention on symptom severity, hope, and life engagement in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS

This study was conducted between January and June 2025 at the chemotherapy unit of Atatürk University Research Hospital. Sixty patients were randomized (30 per group). Five were excluded after randomization before baseline assessment because of changes in medical treatment, leaving 55 participants in the per-protocol analysis (intervention n = 27; control n = 28). Symptom severity, hope, and life engagement were measured at baseline and after four weeks using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), Herth Hope Scale (HHS), and Life Engagement Scale (LES).

RESULTS

Baseline ESAS, HHS, and LES scores were similar between groups (p > 0.05); however, baseline ESAS tiredness was significantly higher in the intervention group (p < 0.05). After the intervention period, the intervention group had lower adjusted symptom severity (X±SE = 3.07 ± 0.05 vs. 4.21 ± 0.05; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.823), significantly higher levels of hope (X±SE = 72.84 ± 0.81 vs. 47.19 ± 0.79; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.908), and life engagement (X±SE = 26.61 ± 0.23 vs. 22.74 ± 0.22; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.738) compared to the control group at post-test.

CONCLUSIONS

As part of supportive care, laughter yoga as a low-cost, non-pharmacological therapy that can be easily integrated into nursing care may reduce symptom severity, increase hope, and may enhance life participation in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Future studies should examine its long-term effects to evaluate the impact of laughter yoga on physical and psychological issues in oncology nursing.