{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T14:55:52Z","timestamp":1774968952239,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"African Journal of Reproductive Health (AJRH)","issue":"6","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["AJRH"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Menopause and its symptoms significantly affect women\u2019s physical, psychological, and social well-being, often resulting in chronic stress. Education based on the self-care model\u2019s three components\u2014maintenance, monitoring, and management\u2014combined with laughter yoga, a proven stress-reducing practice, may effectively aid in managing menopausal symptoms and stress. This randomized controlled trial investigated the impact of a menopause education program grounded in the self-care model and integrated with laughter yoga on menopausal symptoms, perceived stress, coping styles, and salivary cortisol among postmenopausal women. Sixty-four participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=32) or a control group (n=32). Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Menopause Symptoms Assessment Scale, the Coping Styles Inventory, and salivary cortisol measurements. After the intervention, significant improvements were observed in the intervention group\u2019s scale scores and salivary cortisol levels compared to the control group (p=0.001). The program successfully alleviated menopausal symptoms and reduced stress, with lower cortisol levels indicating positive physiological adaptation. Primary healthcare nurses are encouraged to integrate self-care\u2013based education and affordable stress-reduction methods, such as laughter yoga, into menopausal counseling. Future studies with larger samples and extended follow-up periods are recommended to confirm these results.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.29063\/ajrh2026\/v30i6.6","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T13:37:07Z","timestamp":1774964227000},"page":"55-65","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of a self-care-based education and laughter yoga on chronic stress, menopausal symptoms, and salivary cortisol: A randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.29063","volume":"30","author":[{"given":"Dilek Karao\u011flan","family":"G\u00fclevi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hatice","family":"Bebi\u015f","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"11599","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]},"container-title":["African Journal of Reproductive Health"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T13:37:13Z","timestamp":1774964233000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajrh.info\/index.php\/ajrh\/article\/view\/6836"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.29063\/ajrh2026\/v30i6.6","relation":{},"ISSN":["1118-4841"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1118-4841","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]}}}