Effectiveness of Laughter Therapy on Depression among Adolescence in  Selected College, Salem

 

Dr. Mrs. K. Maheswari

Vice Principal, Vinayaka Missions Annapoorana College of Nursing

 

ABSTRACT:

Pre-experimental design with one group pre and posttest and experimental approach was used to assess the effectiveness of laughter therapy on depression among adolescence in selected college, salem..  Overall pre test mean score was 40.73 ± 4.22 which is 65% and the overall post test mean score was 31.5 ± 4.67 which is 51% with an overall difference of 14% reveals that the reduction in the level of depression after implementation of laughter therapy. Hence, it can be interpreted that laughter therapy was effective in reducing the level of depression among the geriatrics.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Laughter therapy is a life style rather than a treatment. As a drugless system of healing, it utilizes the inherent healing power of individual. One such natural way is laughter therapy, which is the art of using laughter exercise to help heal people with physical or mental illness (Kanji .N, Ennst .E)¹ Humour offers a tool for patients, families, and staff who deal with the elderly to relieve anxiety, to manage depression and to improve coping abilities( Sultan .B, Zalaquett (2002)².

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

“A study to evaluate the effectiveness of laughter therapy on among adolescence in  selected college, Salem”.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.        To assess the level of depression among the adolescence prior to the implementation of laughter therapy.

2.        To assess the effectiveness of laughter therapy on depression among adolescence.

3.        To find out the association between level of depression among the adolescence and their selected demographic variables.

 

HYPOTHESES:

H₁:   There is significant difference between the level of depression among the adolescence before and after implementing laughter therapy.

 

H₂:   There is significant association between the level of depression among adolescence and their selected demographic variables

 

METHODOLOGY:

The research design and approach adopted for this study was pre experimental with one group pre and post test research design with quantitative approach. The study was conducted among adolescence in  selected college, Salem  74 samples were collected by using purposive sampling technique. Beck’s depression scale (BDI) was created by Dr. Aaron T.Beck self-report inventory were used to assess the effectiveness of laughter therapy among the adolescence. Laughter exercise was implemented for 15-20 minutes daily once for 7 days and post test was done. The collected data was organized, tabulated and analyzed by using descriptive statistics.

 

RESULT:

Table No.1: Comparison of mean, SD and mean percentage of pre and post test scores.

 

Assessment of effectiveness of laughter therapy on depression among adolescence shows that in pre test, the highest mean score 56.82 ± 6.02 which is 90.19 was in extreme depression and the lowest mean score 53.22 ± 5.01 which is 84.41 was in moderate to severe depression, whereas in post test, the highest mean score 44.62 ± 7.08 which is 70.82 was in severe depression and the lowest mean score 40.52 ± 5.05 which is 64.31 was in mild to moderate depression. This shows a reduction in the level of depression among the adolescence after implementation of laughter therapy.

 

Figure No.1 :  Comparison of percentage wise distribution of depression among adolescence before and after administration of laughter therapy\

 

Table No.2: Paired t-test to assess the effectiveness of Laughter therapy on depression among adolescence. 

 ***-p<001  , highly significant^***

 

Comparison of percentage wise distribution of depression among adolescence before and after administration of laughter therapy shows a reduction in the level of depression after administration of laughter therapy.

 

Paired -‘t’ test was calculated to analyze the significant difference in pre and posttest scores regarding laughter therapy on depression among adolescence. The findings show highly significant difference. Hence, the research hypotheses is accepted (p<0.001). It shows that laughter therapy was effective for reducing depression among adolescence.

 

CONCLUSION:

The present study assessed the effectiveness of laughter therapy on depression among adolescence in  selected college, Salem. The findings of this study revealed that there is a significant difference in the pre and post test mean scores (14%) of depression because of the effectiveness of laugher therapy.

 

REFERENCES:

1.        Kanji .N, Ennst .E (2008), “Autogenic training for stress and anxiety, a systemic review”; the complementary therapeutic medicine 49(4); pp:106-110 .

2.        Sultan .B, Zalaquett (2002), “Relaxation techniques in Novey D”, clinician complete reference to complementary and alternative medicine, pp:154-160

3.        R. O. Shittu, L. O. Odeigah, B. A. Issac “ Association between depression and demographic, PP. 18-23, Pub. Date: January 28, 2014.

4.        H. Russell Searight, “Expanding major boundaries of depression”, PP. 9-12, Pub. Date : January 28, 2014.

5.        Massimo Cocchi, Lucio Tonello, Fabio Gabrielli, “Psychiatric doubts”, PP. 5-8, Pub. Date: January 28, 2014.

 

 

 

Received on 08.02.2017      Modified on 29.03.2017

Accepted on 01.05.2017     © A&V Publications all right reserved