Published Paper Details:

Background: Occupational stress among nurses is a global concern, particularly in high-pressure regions like Jammu & Kashmir. Laughter therapy has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention with promising outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of laughter therapy in reducing occupational stress among staff nurses in Jammu & Kashmir through a meta-analytic synthesis of studies published between 2009 and 2019. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA 2000 guidelines. Databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Research Gate and Academia.edu. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. Hedge's G was used to calculate pooled effect size under a random-effects model. Results: Twenty studies met inclusion criteria. The pooled effect size was -1.47 (95% CI: -1.92 to -1.02), indicating a large and statistically significant reduction in stress. Gender emerged as a significant moderator. Conclusion: Laughter therapy is a safe, effective, and scalable intervention for reducing occupational stress among nurses. Region-specific trials are recommended to validate findings in Jammu & Kashmir.