en Anxiety and Stress پژوهشي Research Article <span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b><span style="color:black">Background and Objective:</span></b> Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD) is a progressive and enduring neurodegenerative condition that markedly impairs the overall health and daily functioning of the aging population. In recent years, non-medicinal strategies&mdash;most notably laughter-based yoga programs&mdash;are being increasingly acknowledged as practical supportive care alternatives.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b>Objective:</b> The present study aimed to evaluate whether a structured course of Kataria laughter therapy could meaningfully influence death-related distress and overall quality of life (QOL) in older women diagnosed with PD.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b>Material and Methods:</b> We used a quasi-experimental framework with pre- and post-intervention assessments and a matched control condition. From nursing homes in Dezful, Iran, 30 eligible older women were conveniently recruited and evenly randomized into an experimental (n=15) or control arm (n=15). The intervention group participated in ten 45-minute Kataria laughter sessions (twice per week across five consecutive weeks), while controls continued their standard daily routines without additional input. Assessment tools comprised the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale (CL-FODS) and the disease-specific Parkinson&#39;s Disease Quality of Life (PDQL) questionnaire. To analyse the data, we applied descriptive indices along with multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA and ANCOVA).<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b>Results: </b>Multivariate testing demonstrated a significant overall effect attributable to the intervention (Wilks&#39; Lambda=0.504, F=23.115, P<0.01, &eta;&sup2;=0.622). Subsequent univariate ANCOVAs indicated that the laughter therapy led to a statistically meaningful reduction in death anxiety scores (F=9.357, P<0.01, &eta;&sup2;=0.332) and a substantial enhancement in quality-of-life scores (F=14.719, P<0.01, &eta;&sup2;=0.467) within the experimental group relative to controls.</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b>Conclusion:</b> Kataria laughter therapy emerges as a cost-efficient, safe, and drug-free intervention capable of both diminishing mortality fears and elevating perceived life quality among older women with PD. These findings endorse its value as a complementary component within standard geriatric care protocols.</span></span></span></span><br> <br> <div id="gtx-anchor" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; left: 20px; top: 485.6px; width: 70.3375px; height: 17.6px;"></div> <div aria-describedby="bubble-3" class="jfk-bubble gtx-bubble" role="alertdialog" style="visibility: visible; left: 40px; top: 303px; opacity: 1;"> <div class="jfk-bubble-content-id" id="bubble-3"><div id="gtx-host" style="min-width: 200px; max-width: 400px;"></div></div> <div aria-label="Close" class="jfk-bubble-closebtn-id jfk-bubble-closebtn" role="button" tabindex="0"></div> <div class="jfk-bubble-arrow-id jfk-bubble-arrow jfk-bubble-arrowdown" style="left: 35px;"><div class="jfk-bubble-arrowimplbefore"></div><div class="jfk-bubble-arrowimplafter"></div></div> </div> Complementary therapy, Death anxiety, Elderly, Laughter therapy, Laughter yoga, Parkinson's disease, Quality of life 0 0 http://ajnpp.umsha.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2663-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zeinab Barzikar 2002281335@iau.ac.ir 10031947532846009274 10031947532846009274 No Department of Psychology, Dez. C, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran saeid tanoorsaz tanoorsaz@iau.ac.ir 10031947532846009275 10031947532846009275 Yes Department of Physical Education, Dez. C, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran saeid Mushtaqhi Mushtaqhi@iau.ac.ir 10031947532846009276 10031947532846009276 No Department of Psychology, Dez. C, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran