تاثیر آموزش خنده‌ درمانی کاتاریا بر کاهش افسردگی و افزایش امید به زندگی در زنان (مطالعۀ موردی: شهر اصفهان)

هدف: ورزش به‌ عنوان یک روش غیردارویی می‌تواند به کاهش علائم افسردگی با کارایی قابل‌مقایسه با دارودرمانی و سایر مداخلات روان‌شناختی کمک کند؛ بنابراین این مطالعه با هدف بررسی تاثیر برنامه یوگای خنده بر افسردگی و امید به زندگی زنان شهر اصفهان انجام شد. مواد و روش ها: این پژوهش نیمه‌تجربی با طرح پیش‌آزمون و پس‌آزمون با گروه کنترل بود. نمونه شامل زنان شرکت‌کننده در کلاس‌های مراکز هلال‌احمر اصفهان بود که به‌صورت نمونه‌گیری تصادفی چندمرحله‌ای به دو گروه آزمایش (15 نفر) و کنترل (15 نفر) تقسیم شدند. گروه آزمایش به مدت هشت هفته (سه جلسه در هفته/هر جلسه 45 دقیقه) در کلاس‌های یوگای خنده شرکت کردند؛ درحالی‌که گروه کنترل فعالیت ورزشی خاصی انجام ندادند. داده‌ها از طریق پرسش‌نامه‌های افسردگی و امید به زندگی جمع‌آوری و با استفاده از آزمون تحلیل کوواریانس تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که برنامه آموزش یوگای خنده تاثیر معناداری بر کاهش افسردگی و افزایش امید به زندگی داشت (05/0p<). نتیجه گیری: به نظر می رسد برنامه یوگای خنده می‌تواند به‌عنوان یک روش درمانی موثر و کم‌هزینه برای بهبود افسردگی و افزایش امید به زندگی در زنان به کار رود.

effectiveness of laughter yoga intervention on reducing depression and increasing life expectancy in women (case study: isfahan city)

background and purposedepression is a widespread mental health disorder that differs significantly from normal mood changes and affects various aspects of life, including relationships and social interactions. globally, approximately 4% of the population experiences depression, with higher prevalence in women (6%) compared to men (4%), and among those over 60 years old (5.7%) (woodi et al. 2017). depression is more common in women, with about a 50% higher prevalence, and is a major contributor to suicide, causing over 700,000 deaths annually worldwide, making it the fourth leading cause of death. in iran, depression rates range between 5.7% and 7.3% across different populations (montazeri et al., 2013). the disorder manifests differently in men and women, with symptoms like loss of interest, excessive crying, indecisiveness, and low energy being common. women are more prone to depression due to factors like violence, economic hardship, workplace challenges, and sexual abuse. additionally, people with mental health disorders, including depression, face significant challenges, such as reduced life expectancy—living 10 to 20 years less than the general population—underscoring the need for targeted interventions (metrics, evaluation, 2021).research indicates that both laughter and physical activity have significant benefits for physical and mental health. laughter, particularly through practices like laughter yoga—which combines yoga stretches and breathing exercises with laughter—has been shown to positively impact various bodily systems. it promotes muscle relaxation, boosts immune response, balances hormones, and enhances mental well-being. laughter yoga also improves physiological functions such as respiration, digestion, and blood pressure, while reducing stress hormones and stimulating endorphin release, leading to a greater sense of well-being.similarly, physical activity is recommended as a low-cost, low-risk strategy for preventing and treating depression, which often results in economic burdens and deteriorating physical health. regular exercise helps manage weight, improve cardiovascular health, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. importantly, physical activity, and laughter yoga in particular, are effective ways to improve mental health, offering a natural and accessible means to enhance overall well-being.research indicates that laughter can boost catecholamine levels and improve cognitive function. while laughter does not reverse aging, it helps maintain alertness and memory, especially in older adults. in stressful situations, laughter reduces stress hormones in the blood, promoting relaxation and health. recent studies have shown that laughter yoga can significantly enhance mental and physical health, particularly by increasing life expectancy. given the lack of sufficient research in iran on the effects of laughter yoga on depression symptoms and life expectancy in women, this study aims to explore this important issue further. material and methodsthis study utilized a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group to investigate the effects of laughter yoga on depression and hope levels among women. the research sample consisted of women attending classes at red crescent centers in isfahan. a multistage random sampling method was used to select one center and a specific class within that center. from this class, 30 women who scored highest on the beck depression inventory-ii (bdi-ii) and lowest on the adult hope scale (ahs) were chosen and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (15 participants) or the control group (15 participants).