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International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
Volume 5 Issue 5, May 2016
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Effectiveness of Laughter Therapy on Stress among
School Teachers
Dr. R. Shankar Shanmugam1, Dr. C. Susila, J. Anitha2
Abstract: Life is stressful and represents a contrast, dynamic exchange of energy between people and their environment. The human
organism uses innate processes to maintain and restore homeostasis under stressful conditions. Teachers stress may be caused by a
complex set of reasons. Aim: to assess the effectiveness of laughter therapy on the level of stress among school teachers. Material &
Methods: one group pre test and post test design was chosen. Purposive technique was used. Middle school Teachers were the sample.
Results: In the pre test, the overall mean of level of stress was 80.56 with SD of 8.48.In the post test, the overall mean of level of stress
was 48.56 with SD of 9.25.The paired “t” test value is significant at 24.59.It was statistically significant at p< 0.05 level. It indicates the
level of stress has been reduced. Conclusion: Laughter therapy has significant impact in reducing the stress among Teachers.
Keywords: laughter Therapy, Stress, School Teachers
1. Introduction
Every working women and men are faced with stress in their
work place daily they never knew how to cope up and deal
with the stressors and sources of stress. Stress reduction
techniques were not aware to them. A study shows that the
number of times a person laughs reduces from 400 times to
17 times between a preschool age and adulthood. The
various research studies conducted on laughter therapy have
supported the investigator to involve in this study. In the
present study the investigators has implemented laughter
therapy to reduce the stress level among school teachers and
enhance their well being.
Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict.
Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your
mind and body back into balance than a good laugh.
Laughter lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects
you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.
Laughter is beneficial for one’s health.
2. Background
Teacher stress is detrimental and has been associated with
factors such as burnout, teacher quality, self-efficacy,
demographic characteristics ,heavy workload, large student
discipline difficulties, and student interaction problems.
(Davidson, 2009; Russel, Altmaier, & Velzen, 1986)
Teacher quality has been associated with higher levels of
student achievement in secondary classrooms (Allen et al.,
2013).Despite evidence of an association between teacher
stress and a number of other factors, little is known about the
relationships between teacher reported stress and observed
measures of teacher quality.
Teacher’s stress and teachers quality has an unpleasant
relationship. Stress reduced environment improves the
quality in teaching and increase the quality of life.
2.1 Statement of Problem
A pre experimental study to assess the effectiveness of
laughter therapy on the level of stress among school teachers
2.2 Objectives
To assess the pre-test level of stress among the school
teachers.
To determine the effectiveness of laughter therapy on the
level of stress among the school teachers.
To assess the post-test level of stress among the school
teachers.
To associate the level of stress with their selected
demographic variables.
2.3 Methodology
Study Approach & Design
Quantitative- Evaluative approach was adopted for the
study. Pre experimental one group pre test and post test
design was chosen for this study.
One Group Pre Test Post Test Design
Pre test (01)
Intervention (X)
Post test(02)
Level of stress
before giving
laughter therapy
Administration
of laughter
therapy
Level of stress after
giving laugher therapy
01-Level of stress before giving laughter therapy
X - administration of laughter therapy ( milk shake laugh,
lion laugh, one meter laugh, greeting laugh, cellphone laugh,
appreciaion laugh.)
02- Level of stress after giving laughter therapy
Research Setting
The setting of the study was conducted in selected panchayat
union middle school, Thiruvallur district.
Population
Target population for study was all the school teachers. The
accessible populations are school teachers handling 1st-5th
standard in selected middle school.
Sample
School teachers of selected union middle school, Tiruvallur
district, who fulfilled the inclusive sampling criteria.
Sample Size: 30
Paper ID: NOV163338
409
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
Volume 5 Issue 5, May 2016
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Sampling Technique: Non-probability - Purposive
sampling technique.
Development of data collection and instrument
The tool was developed doing extensive literature review.
Modified Teachers stress scale (TSS)was developed .The
tool as validated by nursing experts’. Demographic
characteristics such as, gender, age, marital status, type of
family, education, income, level of students, transport
facility, working hours, number of students you teach,
experience, peers support are included.
The instrument used was modified scale of teachers stress
test which is open public tool. “the tool contribute four
domain
Part – 1
Background variables
Part – 2
The level of stress was assessed by modified teachers stress
scale under four domain
1) Frequency and percentage distribution of demographic
and self structure questionnaire
2) Frequency and percentage distribution of pre and post
test level of stress among school teachers.
3) Mean and standard deviation of pre test and post test
level of stress among school teachers.
4) Association of level of stress in relation to the
demographic data.
The Tool for Data Analysis:
The tools measured the pre test and post test level of stress
on the laughter therapy using self structured questionnaire.
SECTION A: Demographic variables.
SECTION B: Teachers stress scale.
Procedure for data collection
Totally 30 samples (who met the inclusive criteria)were
selected by purposive sampling technique. Written and oral
consent from participant was obtained. After a brief self –
introduction and explanation about the study .The
investigator proceeds with the main study. Pre test data was
collected by using self structured questionnaires to collect
demographic variables and stress was assessed by using
Teachers stress scale (TSS).Questionnaire by written test
was assessed directly by the investigators for about 10
minutes.
The samples were divided into three groups and
demonstrated with explanation of laughter therapy for about
30 minutes. The samples were encouraged to practice the
same. They were comfortable with the procedure and time
was adequate.
Post test was assessed by using Teachers stress scale (TSS).
Data analysis
Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential
statistics
3. Results
Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of pre and post test level of stress among school teachers.
Level of stress
Non noticeable
1
Barely noticeable
2
Moderately noticeable
3
Very noticeable
4
Extremely noticeable
5
No
%
No
%
No
%
No
%
No
%
Pre test
0
0
1
3.33
10
33.33
19
63.33
0
0
Post test
0
0
4
13.33
12
40
14
46.66
0
0
Table 2: shows that in the pre test level of stress among
teachers were Non noticeable 0 (0%), Barely noticeable
0(0% )
Moderately noticeable 1 (3.33% ) Very noticeable
10(33.33%)and Extremely noticeable19(63.33%).
In the post test stress Non noticeable 4(13.33% ),Barely
noticeable 12(40%) Moderately noticeable 14 (46.66%)
Very noticeable 0(0%) and Extremely noticeable 0(0%) ,
Table 3: Mean and standard deviation of pre test and post
test level of stress among school teachers.
Variables
Pre test
Post test
“t” value
Mean
S.D
Mean
S.D
Level of stress
80.56%
8.48%
48.56%
9.25%
24.59%
* p = < 0.05
Table3:Indicates that in the pre test, the overall mean of
level of stress was 80.56 with SD of 8.48.In the post test, the
overall mean of level of stress was 48.56 with SD of
9.25.The paired “t” test value is significant at 24.59.It was
statistically significant at p < 0.05 level. It indicates the level
of stress has been reduced.
4. Discussion
Over all findings of the shows that laughter therapy in the
pre test stress No noticeable( 0 ),Barely noticeable(0 )
Moderately noticeable ( 1 ) Very noticeable(10)and
Extremely noticeable(19)and adequate control over stress
implying the necessity of laughter therapy on Reducing the
level of stress for school teachers. As similar to the findings
of Stein & Reeder et al. (2009) conducted study on laughing
at oneself for beginning nursing students Convenience
sample of nine female BSN students from the University of
Colorado, Denver, Health Sciences Center. The students‟
ages were between 23 and 51 years old Qualitative Face-to-
face interview Husserl’s phenomenological methodology
(1990). Detailed approach Four-column analysis grid Using
the experience of laughing at oneself in the nursing
profession provided the nursing students with tools that they
could use successfully with the challenges that they would
face in their nursing career.
Paper ID: NOV163338
410
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
Volume 5 Issue 5, May 2016
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
The analysis of pre test level of stress revealed that the
overall pre test mean score was (80.56 ) with S.D of (8.48 )
and the post test mean score was (48.56 ) with S.D of (9.247
) and t value of (24.59 ) which had high statistical
significance. This indicated that the level of control over
stress had significantly increased after the training. As
similar to the findings of Fabiola. M. Mathew et al. (2003)
conducted a study to assess the value of humour in current
nursing practice. Using of laughter therapy in nursing
practice helps to relive the work stress that associated with
low pay offered, intermittent shortages of nurses, high staff
turnover work overload and additional stresses associated at
workplace.
After laughter therapy in the post test stress No noticeable(
4 ),Barely noticeable(12) Moderately noticeable ( 14 ) Very
noticeable(0)and Extremely noticeable(0) , as similar to the
findings of Klatt M.D et al. (2009) conducted a qualitative
study among 50 individuals employed in various
occupations in Iran. Individuals are divided as 15 workers,
15 managers, 9 guardians, 5 dentists, 6 teachers. Provided
laugh for 30 minutes and after each session asked to
continue in work environment. The result showed that there
was a great relief from the stress after laughter therapy.
This findings revealed that there was significant association
of the level of stress with age, interpersonal, educational
status, monthly income, type of family, parenting style study
findings was similar with the study of Kyriako et al.(2001)
Stress levels among practicing teachers are high reported
that 37% of teachers were stressed.
5. Conclusion
The present study assessed the effectiveness of laughter
therapy on level of stress among school teachers. The
investigators concluded that information, education, practice
and communication package on laughter therapy was an
effective method to reduce the level of stress among school
teachers. This study finding highlights the needs for laughter
therapy to reduce the level of stress.
6. Implications
Nursing practice
The nurse develops a self instructional module aimed at
imparting knowledge on laughter therapy on reduction of
stress among school teachers. The nurse should create
awareness among school teachers regarding laughter therapy
to the level of stress.
Nursing Administration
Nursing administrators can formulate policies which include
all nursing staff to be actively involved in health education
programme especially through information, education ,
communication. They should involve designing and
distributing health education materials like flash cards and
other audio visual aids.
Nursing Education
During the course of study, student nurses will able to
understand the effectiveness of laughter therapy exercise
among school teachers. It helps to understand that increase
in stress level may lead to several health problems.
Nursing Research
This study can be used as an access to further studies .One
of the aims of nursing research is to expand and the scope of
nursing and providing evidence based practice in the setting.
7. Recommendations
The study findings could be disseminated to the
authorities in the study setting and introduced as a
component of laughter therapy exercise.
A similar study can be conducted on a large scale for
better generalization.
A similar study can be carried out in different settings.
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Author Profile
Dr. R. Shankar Shanmugam, MSc(N),PhD,MBA,Coordinator-
Nursing Education & PME/Sr.Nursing Tutor, TamilNadu Govt
Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Chennai-
email:shankarshaki@yahoo.com, Mobile:9884020914.
Dr. C.Susila,MSc(N),PhD.,Principal, Bilroth College of Nursing,
Chennai-95, India
Dr. J.Anitha, Asst.Professor, Bilroth College of Nursing, Chennai-
95, India
Paper ID: NOV163338
411
