Feasibility and Effects of Laughter-imitation Therapy (LIT)

Laughter-imitation Therapy (LIT) is a special kind of therapy where people pretend to laugh to help them feel better mentally. This is especially important after the tough times during the pandemic. The study will check if this kind of therapy is easy and helpful for older adults living in nursing homes. In the study, 30 older adults will be asked to practice fake laughter for 3 minutes each day for one month. This adds up to 21 minutes of practice each week. A research helper will teach participants and help them practice. In the beginning, the helper will be there for two days in the first week and one day in the second week. The study will use different tools to check the effects on happiness, sleep quality, depression levels, and overall mental health.

• Study length: 8 weeks for control group, then intervention starts
• Requires daily 3-minute practice for 1 month
• Participants will give feedback at the end of the study

Researchers believe this therapy can help improve the mental health of older adults in nursing homes.