Introduction Both children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents are at a high risk of experiencing anxiety and depression. Recent studies have indicated that laughter yoga can create happiness and reduce negative emotions in adults.
However, there are limited studies about how laughter yoga benefits children with ASD and parents of children with ASD. This feasibility study aims to explore the recruitment, retention rate, protocol adherence and acceptability of a laughter yoga programme in children with ASD and their parents.
Moreover, it investigates the safety issues and the effects of laughter yoga on reducing depression and anxiety in children with ASD, as well as parenting stress in their parents. Methods and analysis This study protocol describes a feasibility study aimed at evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a laughter yoga intervention for children with ASD and their parents.
This feasibility study uses a randomised, wait-list-controlled trial and pre-test - post-test design. The primary outcomes include recruitment rate, screening rate, attendance rate, dropout rate, perceptions of laughter yoga, difficulties encountered and safety issues.
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 16 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Effects of laughter yoga on reducing depression and anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder and parenting stress in their parents: study protocol for a randomised-controlled feasibility trial.
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