The effect of laughter yoga on perceived stress, burnout, and life satisfaction in nurses during the pandemic: A randomized controlled trial

Study tested laughter yoga for frontline nurses during COVID-19 using a randomized controlled design. Nurses attended eight online group sessions over four weeks. Results showed clear drops in stress and burnout, and higher life satisfaction compared to no intervention. Sessions used simple breathing, movement, and guided laughter that can be delivered remotely with minimal cost. For preparedness practice, this is a low-resource, scalable tool to protect workforce performance under sustained pressure. Build into shift schedules, run in small groups, and maintain regular frequency. Expect improvements in morale, decision making, and care quality during prolonged emergencies and patient safety outcomes overall. Bottom line: Run short, regular group laughter-yoga sessions to quickly reduce staff stress and burnout and keep teams functioning during crises.