A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Laughter Theraphy on Depression among Elderly Persons Staying in Selected Old Age Home at Dindigul District, Tamilnadu

OBJECTIVES : 1. To compare the level of depression before and after administration of laughter therapy among elderly persons staying in selected old age home. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of laughter therapy among elderly persons staying in selected old age home. 3. To find out the association between the pre test level of depression among elderly persons with their selected socio demographic variables. 4. To find out the association between the post test level of depression among elderly persons with their selected socio demographic variables. The conceptual frame work of the present study was developed by the investigator based on Roy’s adaptation model. The review of literature helped the investigator to develop conceptual frame work, determine the methodology for the study, and plan for analysis of the data in the most effective and efficient way. The research approach adopted for the study was pre-experimental approach. The research design selected for the study was one group pretest post test, which was used to measure the effectiveness of laughter therapy. The selection of the sample was done by non-probability purposive sampling technique and the sample consists of 40 elderly persons in Anbalaya old age home at Dindigul district. The instrument developed and used for the present study was semi-structured interview schedule, which had two sections. Section A: comprised of 8 items. The items were age, sex, marital status, educational status, number of children, family history of depression, physical illness and length of stay in old age home. Section B: comprised of Geriatric Depression Scale which consist of 30 items dealing with the level of depression among elderly persons and the total score was 30. Content validity of the tool was obtained from five experts and the reliability of the tool was r=0.93. the structured teaching module was administered following pretest. Post test was conducted after 7 days. The collected data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics in terms of frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation and chisquare test. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: The major findings of the study were summarized as follows, Findings related to socio demographic variables: 1. Among 40 samples, 3 (7.5%) of elderly persons were in age group of 60-64 years, 8 (20%) of elderly persons were in age group of 65-69 years and 29 (72.5%) of elderly persons were in age group of 70-75 years. 2. Nearly 34 (85%) of elderly persons were females and 6 (15%) were males. 3. In the study, 2 (5%) of elderly persons were unmarried/divorced, 9 (22.5%) of elderly persons were got married and 29 (72.5%) of elderly persons were widow/widowers. 4. Out of 40 samples, 18 (45%) of elderly persons were illiterate, 10 (25%) of elderly persons were having primary school education, 7 (17.5%) of elderly persons having higher secondary education and 5 (12.5%) of elderly persons were graduate. 5. The study reveals that, 1 (2.5%) of elderly persons had no children, 2 (5%) of elderly persons had only one children, 20(50%) of elderly persons having 2 children and 17 (42.5%) of elderly persons had above 2 children. 6. Among 40 elderly persons, 34 (85%) of them had the family history of depression, 6 (15%) of them had no family history of depression. 7. In the present study, 35 (87.5%) of elderly persons had a physical illness, 5 (12.5%) of elderly persons had no physical illness. 8. The study reveals that, 19 (47.5%) of elderly persons were staying in old age home for below 1 year, 16 (40%) of elderly persons were staying in old age home for 1-5 years, 5 (12.5%) of elderly persons were staying in old age home for above 5 years. Depression level of elderly persons: 1. Before administration of laughter therapy, none of the elderly persons had normal level of depression, 8 (20%) of elderly persons had mild level of depression, 32 (80%) of them had severe level of depression. 2. After administration of laughter therapy, 10(25%) of elderly persons were had normal level, 30(75%) of them had mild level of depression and none of them had severe level of depression. Analysis of effectiveness of laughter therapy: The findings shows that none of the elderly persons had normal level of depression in pretest and 10 (25%) of them had normal level of depression after administration of laughter therapy, 8 (20%) of them had mild level of depression in pretest and 30 (75%) in the post-test, and 32 (80%) of them had severe level of depression in pretest but none of them had severe depression after administration of laughter therapy. The pretest mean score percentage 75.5% of level of depression among elderly persons which is reduced to 28.73% in post-test. It confirmed that there was a decreased the level of depression among elderly persons after administration of laughter therapy. The paired ‘t’ test analysis of the pretest and post-test level of depression t=17.53 (P,0.05, df=1.96) was highly significant. The result evidently supported the effectiveness of laughter therapy on depression among elderly persons staying in selected old age home at Dindigul district. Relationship between socio demographic variables and pretest level of depression: The present study revealed that, there was an association between the pretest level of depression to age, sex, marital status, family history of depression and physical illness on elderly persons. But, there was no association between the level of depression and other socio demographic variables such as educational status, no of children and length of stay in old age home