Effectiveness of laughter yoga on depression and quality of life among elderly residing in selected geriatric homes at Mangaluru

Abstract

Background: Elderly are prized resources. We need to create a great awareness to safeguard the dignity and health of vulnerable section of society and help them live the rest of their lives with dignity. For health promotion in older adults, various strategies have been recommended by experts, among which Laughter yoga is an important one. It is the cheapest medicine for preventing many diseases and fighting against them. Since special attention should be paid to physical and mental health in older adults, laughter yoga can be applied as an effective strategy leading to health promotion, vitality, happiness and Quality of life in such age group.Methodology: A Quasi- Experimental, non-randomized control group design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised residents from two different private old age homes. Sixty inmates were selected by purposive sampling technique (30 Intervention and 30 control group). Pre-test depression level was assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and Modified World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) Scale was used to assess the pretest level of quality of life. Laughter Yoga technique was administered to the subjects in intervention group and post-test was conducted on the eighth day in both groups using the same questionnaires by face to face interview method.Results: The mean post-intervention depression score (4.00±1.57) in intervention group was lower than their pre-intervention mean score (8.20±1.79) and the mean post-intervention QOL score (273.30±27.11) was more than the mean pre intervention QOL score (206.33±53.00).Where as in the control group no significant differences were observed between mean pre-test and post-test scores. The statical paired ‘t’ value (32.202) for depression and (11.855) for quality of life were higher than the table value (‘t’29 = 2.05at p