Exam StressNCT06943430
The Effect of Laughter Yoga Applied to Nursing Students on Exam Anxiety and Spirituality
A study testing laughter yoga in people with Exam Stress and Anxiety, run by Kırıkkale University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study is planned as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of laughter yoga on the exam anxiety and spirituality levels of nursing students. The research will be conducted with 100 second-year nursing students between 04.2025 and 06.2025. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Exam Stress, Anxiety, Spirituality
- What is being tested?
- laughter yoga
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 24 Feb 2025to 27 Apr 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Being a 2nd-year student in the Nursing Department
- Able to speak and understand Turkish
- Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study
- No visual or hearing impairments
- No history of psychiatric illness
- No current or past use of psychotropic medication
Who cannot join
- Refusal to participate in the study
- Inability to speak or understand Turkish
- Diagnosed psychiatric illness and/or use of psychotropic agents
- Previous participation in laughter yoga
- Physical limitations or respiratory problems preventing yoga practice
- Difficulty in performing breathing exercises due to conditions such as septum deviation
Show all 10Show fewer
- Abdominal surgery within the past 6 months
- Drop-out Criteria:
- Failure to attend any of the laughter yoga sessions
- Receiving a new diagnosis that contraindicates laughter yoga during the 4-week intervention period
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This study is planned as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of laughter yoga on the exam anxiety and spirituality levels of nursing students. The research will be conducted with 100 second-year nursing students between 04.2025 and 06.2025. Students who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomized and divided into two groups: the experimental group (n=36) and the control group (n=36). All participating students will be administered the "Demographic Characteristics Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale" (pre-test).
The experimental group will undergo laughter yoga sessions twice a week for 4 weeks, totaling 8 sessions.
Read more
The control group will only complete the "Demographic Characteristics Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale" (pre-test). No intervention will be applied to the control group.
After the laughter yoga sessions are completed, both the experimental and control groups will complete the "Demographic Characteristics Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale" (post-test).
The collected data will be analyzed using SPSS 22 software.
Read the detailed description
Research Hypotheses:
Laughter yoga reduces exam anxiety in nursing students. Laughter yoga increases the spirituality levels of nursing students. This research aims to examine the effects of laughter yoga on exam anxiety and spirituality levels in nursing students. The researcher has completed a two-day "Laughter Yoga Leader" training with an Internationally Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor and has received the "Laughter Yoga Trainer Training" certificate. The study was conducted with an experimental design, including an experimental group and a control group. The interventions were applied by the researcher, who holds the "Laughter Yoga Leader" certification.
The sample was selected using the simple random sampling method, and participants were initially administered the "Demographic Information Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale." After obtaining ethical committee approval, laughter yoga sessions were applied to students in the experimental group, while no intervention was provided to the control group. As the study was designed experimentally, both groups were initially evaluated using the same measurement tools, and then the experimental group underwent laughter yoga sessions. After the laughter yoga sessions, data were collected from both groups using the same measurement tools, and changes in exam anxiety and spirituality levels were analyzed.
The collected data were evaluated to analyze the changes in exam anxiety and spirituality levels. This study aims to determine the effects of laughter yoga on reducing exam anxiety and increasing spirituality levels in nursing students.
- Conditions
- Exam Stress, Anxiety, Spirituality
- Being tested
- laughter yoga
- Keywords
- laughter yoga, exam stress, anxiety, spirituality
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
laughter yogaOther
Participants in the intervention group received laughter yoga sessions twice a week for a total of four weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| intervention | Experimental | Participants in the intervention group received laughter yoga sessions twice a week for a total of four weeks. Receives: Other: laughter yoga |
| Control | No intervention | No application was made to the control group, standard procedure was followed. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in exam anxiety levels as measured by the Test Anxiety Scale
Exam anxiety will be assessed using a validated Test Anxiety Scale before and after the 4-week laughter yoga intervention.
The mean score difference between pre-test and post-test will be analyzed using paired samples t-test.
Measured: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in spirituality levels as measured by the Spirituality Scale
Spirituality levels will be measured using a validated Spirituality Scale at the beginning and end of the intervention.
Differences in mean scores will be analyzed with paired t-tests to determine statistical significance.
Measured: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Apr 2025
- Study start24 Feb 2025
- Primary completion27 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion27 Apr 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Exam StressStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- A randomized controlled trial
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kırıkkale University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hande Tiftikci, Kırıkkale University
- Investigators
- Hande Tiftikci, Principal investigator, Kırıkkale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06943430
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KKU-SBF-HT-01
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 10 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The confidentiality of the data used in the study will be protecte
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Laughter Yoga Applied to Nursing Students on Exam Anxiety and Spirituality
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06943430
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KKU-SBF-HT-01
- Conditions
- Exam Stress, Anxiety, Spirituality
- Keywords
- laughter yoga, exam stress, anxiety, spirituality
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Kırıkkale UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 27 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 27 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is planned as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of laughter yoga on the exam anxiety and spirituality levels of nursing students. The research will be conducted with 100 second-year nursing students between 04.2025 and 06.2025. Students who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomized and divided into two groups: the experimental group (n=36) and the control group (n=36). All participating students will be administered the "Demographic Characteristics Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale" (pre-test).
The experimental group will undergo laughter yoga sessions twice a week for 4 weeks, totaling 8 sessions.
The control group will only complete the "Demographic Characteristics Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale" (pre-test). No intervention will be applied to the control group.
After the laughter yoga sessions are completed, both the experimental and control groups will complete the "Demographic Characteristics Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale" (post-test).
The collected data will be analyzed using SPSS 22 software.
Detailed description
Research Hypotheses:
Laughter yoga reduces exam anxiety in nursing students. Laughter yoga increases the spirituality levels of nursing students. This research aims to examine the effects of laughter yoga on exam anxiety and spirituality levels in nursing students. The researcher has completed a two-day "Laughter Yoga Leader" training with an Internationally Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor and has received the "Laughter Yoga Trainer Training" certificate. The study was conducted with an experimental design, including an experimental group and a control group. The interventions were applied by the researcher, who holds the "Laughter Yoga Leader" certification.
The sample was selected using the simple random sampling method, and participants were initially administered the "Demographic Information Form," "Exam Anxiety Scale," and "Spirituality Scale." After obtaining ethical committee approval, laughter yoga sessions were applied to students in the experimental group, while no intervention was provided to the control group. As the study was designed experimentally, both groups were initially evaluated using the same measurement tools, and then the experimental group underwent laughter yoga sessions. After the laughter yoga sessions, data were collected from both groups using the same measurement tools, and changes in exam anxiety and spirituality levels were analyzed.
The collected data were evaluated to analyze the changes in exam anxiety and spirituality levels. This study aims to determine the effects of laughter yoga on reducing exam anxiety and increasing spirituality levels in nursing students.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- A randomized controlled trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| intervention | Experimental | Other: laughter yogaParticipants in the intervention group received laughter yoga sessions twice a week for a total of four weeks. |
| Control | No intervention | –No application was made to the control group, standard procedure was followed. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Being a 2nd-year student in the Nursing Department
- Able to speak and understand Turkish
- Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study
- No visual or hearing impairments
- No history of psychiatric illness
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Refusal to participate in the study
- Inability to speak or understand Turkish
- Diagnosed psychiatric illness and/or use of psychotropic agents
- Previous participation in laughter yoga
- Physical limitations or respiratory problems preventing yoga practice
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| laughter yogaParticipants in the intervention group received laughter yoga sessions twice a week for a total of four weeks. | Other | intervention |
Primary outcome
Change in exam anxiety levels as measured by the Test Anxiety Scale
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Exam anxiety will be assessed using a validated Test Anxiety Scale before and after the 4-week laughter yoga intervention. The mean score difference between pre-test and post-test will be analyzed using paired samples t-test.
1 secondary outcome
Change in spirituality levels as measured by the Spirituality Scale
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The confidentiality of the data used in the study will be protecte
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Hande Tiftikci principal investigator
Kırıkkale University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing laughter yoga in people with Exam Stress and Anxiety, run by Kırıkkale University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in exam anxiety levels as measured by the Test Anxiety Scale (time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Dec 2025.