The effects of a group-based laughter yoga intervention on mood, anxiety and loneliness in adolescents with mild intellectual or developmental disabilities: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Background Mental wellbeing of children and adolescents continues to be a global concern. Those with intellectual or developmental disabilities are at high risk for anxiety disorders and depression. Aim While currently there is limited attention on their mental health needs, this study aimed to explore the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of a laughter yoga (LY) intervention and to assess its preliminary effects on mood, anxiety and loneliness among children and adolescents with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Methods This was a pilot randomized controlled trial with pretest and posttest design. We recruited 45 children and adolescents aged 10–19 years with intellectual or developmental disabilities in one special school in Hong Kong. They were randomly assigned to either the 8-session LY intervention group (n = 22) or the control group that received no intervention (n = 23). Outcome assessments for mood, anxiety and loneliness were performed at baseline and immediate post-intervention. Data was analyzed using Independent t-test, Pearson chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Outcomes and results At post-intervention, the LY intervention group showed significant reductions in trait anxiety (Hedges’g=0.32; 95 %CI: −0.28–0.92) and loneliness (Hedges’g=0.47, 95 %CI: −0.16–1.10) compared with the usual care control group. Conclusions and implications Our findings support the feasibility and preliminary effects of LY in improving mental wellbeing among adolescents with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A larger-scale trial is warranted to confirm the effects of the LY intervention. Health educators may consider integrating LY intervention into school health programs to enhance the mental wellbeing of this vulnerable population.