Laughter YogaNCT07496476
Effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet Play in Preschool Children
A study testing Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet in people with Laughter Yoga and Psychological Well Being, run by Izmir Democracy University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aimed to examine the effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet on preschool children's play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience. 90 children in Buca, İzmir, were randomly assigned to three groups: Laughter Yoga, Finger Puppet, or a Control group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 36 to 72 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Laughter Yoga, Psychological Well Being, Psychological Resilience
- What is being tested?
- Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 31 Mar 2025to 12 May 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 36 to 72 months
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Children enrolled in the preschool of Sevgi-Ferit Akın Middle School during the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Children aged between 36 and 72 months.
- Children whose parents or legal guardians provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- Irregular attendance to intervention sessions.
- Failure to complete all intervention sessions.
- Withdrawal from the study by the child or parent/guardian's request.
- Presence of intellectual or hearing disabilities.
- Diagnosis of respiratory system diseases (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea).
- Diagnosis of inguinal hernia or epilepsy.
- Having undergone abdominal surgery within the last 3-6 months.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet Play Behavior on Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience in Preschool Children
This study aimed to examine the effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet on preschool children's play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience. 90 children in Buca, İzmir, were randomly assigned to three groups: Laughter Yoga, Finger Puppet, or a Control group. The Laughter Yoga group participated in two sessions per week for four weeks, and the Finger Puppet group participated in two sessions per week for two weeks. Data were collected with the help of parents and teachers using questionnaires and observation scales.
Read the detailed description
The preschool period is a critical developmental stage in which children's growth is supported through play-based approaches and structured activities. During this period, providing experiences that foster cognitive and social-emotional development plays a significant role in the acquisition of fundamental skills. Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet are among the non-pharmacological and non-invasive intervention methods that support children's development. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of these interventions on play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience in preschool children.
The study was carried out using a randomized controlled pretest-posttest design including two intervention groups and one control group. A total of 90 preschool children enrolled in a kindergarten in the Buca district of İzmir during the 2024-2025 academic year were selected using a random numbers table and assigned to the Laughter Yoga (n = 30), Finger Puppet (n = 30), and Control (n = 30) groups through the URN randomization method. The Laughter Yoga group received two sessions per week for four weeks, while the Finger Puppet group received two sessions per week for two weeks; no intervention was applied to the control group. Data were collected face-to-face with the guidance of parents and teachers using the Descriptive Characteristics Form for Children and Parents, the Play Behavior Scale for Children Aged 36-71 Months, and PERIK. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. The normality of the data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. For normally distributed data, paired samples t-tests were used for within-group comparisons, and independent samples t-tests were used for between-group comparisons. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
- Being tested
- Laughter Yoga, Finger Puppet
- Keywords
- Preschool Child, Psychological Well Being, Psychological Resilience, Laughter Yoga, Play
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Laughter YogaBehavioural
The Laughter Yoga intervention consisted of two sessions per week for four weeks. Each session included guided laughter exercises, playful movements, and breathing techniques led by a trained instructor.
Finger PuppetBehavioural
The Finger Puppet intervention consisted of two sessions per week for two weeks. Each session included interactive finger puppet activities guided by the researcher, designed to encourage imaginative play, improve social-emotional skills, and promote psychological resilience in preschool children.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter Yoga Group | Experimental | The Laughter Yoga group participated in two sessions per week for four weeks. Each session included guided laughter exercises, breathing techniques, and playful movements designed to support social-emotional development and psychological resilience in preschool children. Receives: Behavioral: Laughter Yoga |
| Finger Puppet Group | Experimental | The Finger Puppet group participated in two sessions per week for two weeks. Each session included interactive finger puppet activities guided by the researcher, designed to encourage imaginative play, social-emotional skills, and psychological resilience in preschool children. Receives: Behavioral: Finger Puppet |
| Control Group | No intervention | The control group did not receive any intervention. Participants continued their regular daily activities without additional Laughter Yoga or Finger Puppet sessions. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Play Behavior Scale For Children Aged 36-71 Months
The Play Behavior Scale for Children Aged 36-71 Months, developed by Rubin (2001) was adapted to Turkish and its validity and reliability were established by Aslan (2017). The scale consists of 21 items across five subscales: "Quiet Behavior" (items 1-5), "Solitary Play" (items 6-9), "Parallel Play" (items 10-14), "Social Play" (items 15-19), and "Rough-and-Tumble Play" (items 20-21). A five-point Likert scale is used for scoring, ranging from "Never (1)," "Rarely (2)," "Sometimes (3)," "Often (4)," to "Always (5)." Since the content of the items differs across subscales, a total play behavior score is not calculated by summing all items.
Measured: Laughter Yoga Group: 4 weeks, Finger Puppet Group: 2 weeks
Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK)
The Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale (PERIK) for preschool children, developed by Mayr and Ulich (2009), was validated for Turkish by Özbey (2019). The scale consists of six subscales-communication/social performance, self-control/conscientiousness, assertiveness, emotional stability/stress coping, task orientation, and enjoyment of exploration-and includes a total of 36 items. A five-point Likert scale is used for assessment: Always (5), Often (4), Sometimes (3), Rarely (2), Never (1). The maximum possible score for each subscale is 30, and the minimum possible score is 1.
Measured: Laughter Yoga Group: 4 weeks, Finger Puppet Group: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Mar 2026
- Study start31 Mar 2025
- Primary completion7 Apr 2025
- Study completion12 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Laughter YogaStudies 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
- This study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design with two intervention groups (Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet) and one control group. Participants were randomly assigned to groups using the URN randomization method.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Izmir Democracy University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Sadiye Dur, Izmir Democracy University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07496476
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IDU-NURSING-SD-02
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet Play Behavior on Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience in Preschool Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07496476
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IDU-NURSING-SD-02
- Keywords
- Preschool Child, Psychological Well Being, Psychological Resilience, Laughter Yoga, Play
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Izmir Democracy UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 7 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 27 Mar 2026 (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 aimed to examine the effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet on preschool children's play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience. 90 children in Buca, İzmir, were randomly assigned to three groups: Laughter Yoga, Finger Puppet, or a Control group. The Laughter Yoga group participated in two sessions per week for four weeks, and the Finger Puppet group participated in two sessions per week for two weeks. Data were collected with the help of parents and teachers using questionnaires and observation scales.
Detailed description
The preschool period is a critical developmental stage in which children's growth is supported through play-based approaches and structured activities. During this period, providing experiences that foster cognitive and social-emotional development plays a significant role in the acquisition of fundamental skills. Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet are among the non-pharmacological and non-invasive intervention methods that support children's development. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of these interventions on play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience in preschool children.
The study was carried out using a randomized controlled pretest-posttest design including two intervention groups and one control group. A total of 90 preschool children enrolled in a kindergarten in the Buca district of İzmir during the 2024-2025 academic year were selected using a random numbers table and assigned to the Laughter Yoga (n = 30), Finger Puppet (n = 30), and Control (n = 30) groups through the URN randomization method. The Laughter Yoga group received two sessions per week for four weeks, while the Finger Puppet group received two sessions per week for two weeks; no intervention was applied to the control group. Data were collected face-to-face with the guidance of parents and teachers using the Descriptive Characteristics Form for Children and Parents, the Play Behavior Scale for Children Aged 36-71 Months, and PERIK. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. The normality of the data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. For normally distributed data, paired samples t-tests were used for within-group comparisons, and independent samples t-tests were used for between-group comparisons. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- This study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design with two intervention groups (Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet) and one control group. Participants were randomly assigned to groups using the URN randomization method.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter Yoga Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Laughter YogaThe Laughter Yoga group participated in two sessions per week for four weeks. Each session included guided laughter exercises, breathing techniques, and playful movements designed to support social-emotional development and psychological resilience in preschool children. |
| Finger Puppet Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Finger PuppetThe Finger Puppet group participated in two sessions per week for two weeks. Each session included interactive finger puppet activities guided by the researcher, designed to encourage imaginative play, social-emotional skills, and psychological resilience in preschool children. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –The control group did not receive any intervention. Participants continued their regular daily activities without additional Laughter Yoga or Finger Puppet sessions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 36 to 72 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Children enrolled in the preschool of Sevgi-Ferit Akın Middle School during the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Children aged between 36 and 72 months.
- Children whose parents or legal guardians provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Irregular attendance to intervention sessions.
- Failure to complete all intervention sessions.
- Withdrawal from the study by the child or parent/guardian's request.
- Presence of intellectual or hearing disabilities.
- Diagnosis of respiratory system diseases (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea).
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 YogaThe Laughter Yoga intervention consisted of two sessions per week for four weeks. Each session included guided laughter exercises, playful movements, and breathing techniques led by a trained instructor. | Behavioural | Laughter Yoga Group |
| Finger PuppetThe Finger Puppet intervention consisted of two sessions per week for two weeks. Each session included interactive finger puppet activities guided by the researcher, designed to encourage imaginative play, improve social-emotional skills, and promote psychological resilience in preschool children. | Behavioural | Finger Puppet Group |
Primary outcome
Play Behavior Scale For Children Aged 36-71 Months
Time frame: Laughter Yoga Group: 4 weeks, Finger Puppet Group: 2 weeks
The Play Behavior Scale for Children Aged 36-71 Months, developed by Rubin (2001) was adapted to Turkish and its validity and reliability were established by Aslan (2017). The scale consists of 21 items across five subscales: "Quiet Behavior" (items 1-5), "Solitary Play" (items 6-9), "Parallel Play" (items 10-14), "Social Play" (items 15-19), and "Rough-and-Tumble Play" (items 20-21). A five-point Likert scale is used for scoring, ranging from "Never (1)," "Rarely (2)," "Sometimes (3)," "Often (4)," to "Always (5)." Since the content of the items differs across subscales, a total play behavior score is not calculated by summing all items.
Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK)
Time frame: Laughter Yoga Group: 4 weeks, Finger Puppet Group: 2 weeks
The Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale (PERIK) for preschool children, developed by Mayr and Ulich (2009), was validated for Turkish by Özbey (2019). The scale consists of six subscales-communication/social performance, self-control/conscientiousness, assertiveness, emotional stability/stress coping, task orientation, and enjoyment of exploration-and includes a total of 36 items. A five-point Likert scale is used for assessment: Always (5), Often (4), Sometimes (3), Rarely (2), Never (1). The maximum possible score for each subscale is 30, and the minimum possible score is 1.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
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 and Finger Puppet in people with Laughter Yoga and Psychological Well Being, run by Izmir Democracy 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 3 inclusion and 7 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Mar 2026. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Play Behavior Scale For Children Aged 36-71 Months (time frame: Laughter Yoga Group: 4 weeks, Finger Puppet Group: 2 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 27 Mar 2026.