This is a pilot randomised controlled trial to explore the acceptability and feasibility of laughter yoga about anxiety and depression reduction in children with ASD and parenting stress reduction for their parents. Hypotheses of this study include: 1. Laughter yoga is acceptable to children with ASD and their parents. 2. Laughter yoga is feasible for anxiety and depression reduction in children with ASD and parenting stress reduction in their parents. 3. Participants in the experimental group will have significantly more reduction in depression, anxiety and parental stress than those in the wait-list-control group.
The intervention is a laughter yoga programme consisting of twelve sessions (biweekly). Sixty-six children with ASD and their father or mother from local autism support groups will join this study. Participants will be given an information sheet. Participants will be fully informed about laughter yoga's details, benefits and risks. All participants voluntarily take part in this study. If the family agrees to participate in this study, the parent will sign the consent form. Families will be randomized into an experimental group or a wait-list-control group. Before the laughter yoga programme, baseline data (T0) will be collected. The experimental group (n=33) will attend the twelve classes led by a certified laughter yoga trainer in an activity room that is suitable for indoor exercise. A research assistant will assist the laughter yoga teacher and provide first aid if needed. Parents will complete the questionnaire again immediately at the Programme End (T1) and at a 3-month follow-up (T2). The wait-list-control group (n=33) will receive the same laughter yoga programme after 3-month follow-up (T2).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
66
each class, including warm-up exercises, laughter yoga exercises, breathing and a relaxation session and sharing
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Response rate
The proportion of eligible potential participants that agree to take part in.
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before intervention)
Attrition rate
The proportion of recruited participants that withdraw from the study at any time.
Time frame: 3 Months Follow-up (9 months from baseline)
Attendance rate
The number and percentage of families attend each laughter yoga session.
Time frame: Each laughter yoga session, total 12 time points
Perception on laughter yoga
Families in the laughter yoga group will be interviewed to explore their perception of laughter yoga and its benefits.
Time frame: Programme end (6 months from Baseline)
Difficulties in laughter yoga
Families in the laughter yoga group will be interviewed to explore difficulties when they practiced laughter yoga.
Time frame: Programme end (6 months from Baseline)
Safety issues
Families in the laughter yoga group will be interviewed and explore any discomfort during or after the laughter yoga.
Time frame: Programme end (6 months from Baseline)
Depression
Parents will rate the 10 items related to their children's depression in the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Parent Version. The scoring ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms of depression.
Time frame: at baseline (immediately before intervention) , Programme end (6 months from Baseline) and 3-month follow-up (9 months from Baseline)
Anxiety
Parents will rate their children's social phobia (9 items, score from 0 to 27), panic disorder(9 items, score from 0 to 27), separation anxiety (7 items, score from 0 to 21), generalized anxiety (6 items, score from 0 to 18) and obsessive-compulsive behaviour (6 items, score from 0 to 18) in the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) - Parent Version, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptom of anxiety.
Time frame: at baseline (immediately before intervention) , Programme end (6 months from Baseline) and 3-month follow-up (9 months from Baseline)
Parenting Stress
Parents will complete the Chinese version of the Parenting Stress Index - Fourth Edition Short Form (PSI-4-SF), from 36 to 180 (36 items), with higher scores indicating a greater level of parenting stress.
Time frame: at baseline (immediately before intervention) , Programme end (6 months from Baseline) and 3-month follow-up (9 months from Baseline)
Child-parent Relationships
Families in the laughter yoga group will be interviewed to assess whether any child-parent relationships have changed since practicing laughter yoga.
Time frame: Programme end (6 months from Baseline)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.