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Table 3 Changes and intervention effects in physical and mental health scores at baseline and follow-up examinations

From: Effects of a laughter program on body weight and mental health among Japanese people with metabolic syndrome risk factors: a randomized controlled trial

Variables

Group

Examination a

Changes

Changes between laughter and control groups b

95% confidence intervals c

Multivariable-adjusted changes

P value d

Baseline

12-week follow-up

Number

Laughter

117

117

     

Control

118

118

     

Body mass index, kg/m2

Laughter

23.1 ± 3.5

22.9 ± 3.3

−0.27 ± 0.5

− 0.19 ± 0.49

− 0.31 – − 0.06

− 0.27

0.006

Control

22.8 ± 3.2

22.7 ± 3.1

− 0.09 ± 0.5

  

− 0.09

 

Body weight, kg

Laughter

56.7 ± 10.4

55.9 ± 10.3

−0.65 ± 1.2

−0.43 ± 1.19

− 0.73 – − 0.12

− 0.64

0.008

Control

56.0 ± 9.4

55.6 ± 9.2

− 0.23 ± 1.2

  

− 0.24

 

Abdominal circumference, cm

Laughter

85.4 ± 10.0

85.3 ± 9.8

−0.09 ± 3.2

−0.01 ± 3.42

−0.89 – 0.87

− 0.06

0.92

Control

85.0 ± 10.0

84.9 ± 9.7

−0.08 ± 3.6

  

− 0.11

 

Subjective mental stress, score

Laughter

2.3 ± 0.9

2.1 ± 0.8

− 0.18 ± 0.6

−0.24 ± 0.61

−0.40 – − 0.08

−0.17

0.004

Control

2.2 ± 0.8

2.2 ± 0.8

0.06 ± 0.6

  

0.05

 

Subjective well-being, score

Laughter

7.6 ± 1.7

8.0 ± 1.4

0.40 ± 1.3

0.39 ± 1.20

0.08–0.70

0.42

0.002

Control

7.5 ± 1.4

7.6 ± 1.5

0.01 ± 1.1

  

−0.01

 

Geriatric depression scale 15, score

Laughter

3.7 ± 3.0

3.2 ± 2.9

−0.55 ± 2.0

−0.28 ± 2.11

−0.83 – 0.26

− 0.60

0.14

Control

4.1 ± 3.1

3.8 ± 3.2

−0.27 ± 2.2

  

− 0.22

 

The Revised Life Orientation Test, score

Laughter

13.4 ± 3.3

14.4 ± 3.4

0.92 ± 2.5

0.56 ± 2.57

−0.10 – 1.22

0.99

0.03

Control

13.0 ± 3.2

13.3 ± 3.4

0.36 ± 2.6

  

0.30

 

SF-8 Health Survey Scoring, score

 Physical component summary

Laughter

46.6 ± 7.8

48.5 ± 6.7

1.98 ± 7.6

1.88 ± 7.59

− 0.08 – 3.83

1.94

0.04

Control

46.8 ± 7.6

46.9 ± 8.3

0.10 ± 7.6

  

0.14

 

 Mental component summary

Laughter

48.8 ± 6.2

49.8 ± 6.5

1.01 ± 6.5

1.12 ± 6.31

−0.50 – 2.74

0.91

0.22

Control

49.3 ± 6.7

49.1 ± 7.3

−0.11 ± 6.1

  

− 0.01

 

 Physical functioning

Laughter

47.4 ± 8.0

49.2 ± 6.8

1.78 ± 7.8

2.22 ± 8.35

0.08–4.37

1.75

0.02

Control

47.5 ± 8.1

47.1 ± 9.3

− 0.44 ± 8.8

  

− 0.42

 

 Role physical

Laughter

48.1 ± 8.0

49.6 ± 6.2

1.52 ± 7.1

2.17 ± 7.35

0.28–4.06

1.33

0.03

Control

48.8 ± 6.7

48.1 ± 7.6

− 0.65 ± 7.6

  

−0.47

 

 Bodily pain

Laughter

48.2 ± 8.1

50.5 ± 8.2

2.26 ± 9.2

1.67 ± 8.51

− 0.52 – 3.85

2.25

0.09

Control

48.5 ± 8.9

49.1 ± 8.7

0.59 ± 7.8

  

0.61

 

 General health perception

Laughter

48.4 ± 6.4

50.6 ± 6.2

2.22 ± 5.9

1.25 ± 6.04

−0.31 – 2.80

2.20

0.09

Control

48.5 ± 7.1

49.5 ± 7.3

0.97 ± 6.2

  

1.00

 

 Vitality

Laughter

49.2 ± 6.0

50.7 ± 6.3

1.47 ± 6.3

1.39 ± 5.78

−0.10 – 2.87

1.41

0.07

Control

49.5 ± 5.9

49.6 ± 6.3

0.09 ± 5.2

  

0.15

 

 Social functioning

Laughter

48.3 ± 8.3

49.5 ± 8.1

1.20 ± 8.9

0.91 ± 8.40

−1.25 – 3.07

1.07

0.48

Control

48.7 ± 8.8

49.0 ± 8.1

0.29 ± 7.9

  

0.42

 

 Role emotional

Laughter

49.2 ± 6.4

50.2 ± 5.3

0.99 ± 6.5

1.55 ± 6.60

− 0.15 – 3.25

0.93

0.06

Control

49.4 ± 6.2

48.9 ± 7.7

−0.55 ± 6.7

  

−0.49

 

 Mental health

Laughter

48.7 ± 6.5

50.5 ± 6.4

1.78 ± 6.0

1.86 ± 6.12

0.29–3.43

1.66

0.02

Control

49.3 ± 6.9

49.3 ± 7.0

−0.08 ± 6.2

  

0.04

 
  1. Data are represented as means ± standard deviation and mean change. P values indicate the intervention effects of changes in the intervention and non-intervention periods. Changes in each group are shown as the value of the 12-week follow-up examination minus the value of baseline examination. The intervention effects of the laughter program on variables were analyzed using an analysis of covariance adjusted by age, sex, metabolic syndrome risk factors, medication, and area, and each dependent variable value at baseline
  2. aValues are mean ± standard deviation
  3. bBaseline and 12-week follow-up changes between the laughter and control groups
  4. c95% confidence intervals between changes in baseline and 12-week follow-up of between the laughter and control groups
  5. dP values for comparing the adjusted changes from baseline to 12-week follow-up in the laughter and control groups using an analysis of covariance adjusted by age, sex, medication and area, and each dependent variable value at baseline. SF-8: 8-Item Short Form Health Survey
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BMC Geriatrics

ISSN: 1471-2318

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