The effect of laughter yoga on breastfeeding self-efficacy and stress perception in breastfeeding women

Objective: This research was conducted in order to examine the effect of laughter yoga, an alternative therapy method, on breastfeeding self-efficacy and perceived stress in breastfeeding women. Material and Method: The research is an intervention research. May August 02, 2023, 114 breastfeeding women (52 interventions, 62 controls) admitted to the outpatient clinic of Pediatric Health and Diseases of Manisa City Hospital were studied between 02 May and 02 Dec 2023. The first data of the study were collected face-to-face. A total of 10 sessions of laughter yoga (online) were applied to the women in the initiative group twice a week for a period of 5 weeks. The Descriptive Information Form, The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) were used to collect the data. Post-application and postpartum 6th monthly data were collected online. Findings: In the study, The Descriptive Information Form, PSS and BSES were applied in three stages: at the first interview, after the application and at the end of the 6th postpartum month. There was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups when PSS total score averages were compared after the application (p>0.05). However, it was found that the mean PSS scores were lower in the intervention group after the application than in the control group within and between the groups. It was found that there was no significant difference in the breastfeeding self-efficacy score averages between the intra-group and the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: It has been found that laughter yoga has no effect on perceived stress and breastfeeding self-efficacy in breastfeeding women. Keywords: Postpartum, Laughter Yoga, breastfeeding, self-efficacy, stress