Academic Journal
Effects of laughter yoga on reducing depression and anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder and parenting stress in their parents: study protocol for a randomised-controlled feasibility trial.
| Title: | Effects of laughter yoga on reducing depression and anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder and parenting stress in their parents: study protocol for a randomised-controlled feasibility trial. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Chung JOK; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong okjoyce.chung@polyu.edu.hk., Lam CY; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong., Leung SF; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong., Bressington D; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.; Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand., Chong ACY; School of Nursing, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. |
| Source: | BMJ open [BMJ Open] 2026 Jun 16; Vol. 16 (6), pp. e112368. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 16. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Clinical Trial Protocol |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101552874 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2044-6055 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20446055 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Open Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2011- |
| MeSH Terms: | Stress, Psychological*/therapy , Depression*/therapy , Depression*/prevention & control , Anxiety*/therapy , Yoga*/psychology , Parents*/psychology , Autism Spectrum Disorder*/psychology , Autism Spectrum Disorder*/therapy , Laughter*/psychology , Parenting*/psychology , Laughter Therapy*/methods, Humans ; Feasibility Studies ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Hong Kong ; Adult |
| Abstract: | Introduction: Both children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents are at a high risk of experiencing anxiety and depression. Recent studies have indicated that laughter yoga can create happiness and reduce negative emotions in adults. However, there are limited studies about how laughter yoga benefits children with ASD and parents of children with ASD. This feasibility study aims to explore the recruitment, retention rate, protocol adherence and acceptability of a laughter yoga programme in children with ASD and their parents. Moreover, it investigates the safety issues and the effects of laughter yoga on reducing depression and anxiety in children with ASD, as well as parenting stress in their parents. Methods and Analysis: This study protocol describes a feasibility study aimed at evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a laughter yoga intervention for children with ASD and their parents. This feasibility study uses a randomised, wait-list-controlled trial and pre-test-post-test design. The primary outcomes include recruitment rate, screening rate, attendance rate, dropout rate, perceptions of laughter yoga, difficulties encountered and safety issues. The secondary outcomes focus on depressive and anxiety symptoms among children with ASD and parenting stress levels. Data will be collected before the intervention (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1) and 3 months after the intervention (T2). 66 children with ASD and their parents will be recruited in Hong Kong through social media posts. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the laughter yoga group or the wait-list-control group. The laughter yoga group will receive the intervention which consists of 12 classes of 1-hour laughter yoga over 6 months. After the intervention, families will be invited to join a family-based semi-structured interview, which aims at understanding participants' experiences, safety concerns and feedback they may have. The wait-list control group will receive no treatment until the completion of T2. The collected data will be used to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of laughter yoga for children with ASD and their parents. Ethics and Dissemination: This study was approved by the Human Subject Ethical Subcommittee of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (No.: HSEARS20230723002). The results of the research project will be published in an academic journal. Trial Registration Number: NCT06326255. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Anxiety disorders; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Depression & mood disorders; Parents; Stress, Psychological |
| Molecular Sequence: | ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06326255 |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260616 Date Completed: 20260616 Latest Revision: 20260726 |
| Update Code: | 20260726 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13289058 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-112368 |
| PMID: | 42303395 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2044-6055 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-112368 |