Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 4-3-2023

Abstract

The current research study investigated the relationship between different adaptive and maladaptive styles of humor, psychological well-being, and distress measures. The sample for this cross-sectional analysis included 237 undergraduate students at the University of New Mexico. Zero-order correlation analyses of all the study variables revealed that adaptive humor styles were associated with greater psychological well-being and lower psychological distress symptoms while maladaptive humor styles were generally related to lower well-being and greater distress symptoms. All four humor styles were significantly associated with hope, while only affiliative and self-defeating humor were associated with resilience. Mediation analyses revealed that resilience was a mediator of 29.17% of the effects of the humor styles on well-being and 33.33% of the effects of them on distress, and hope was a mediator of 100% of the effects of humor styles on well-being and 58.33% of their effects on distress. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Dr. Bruce Smith

Second Committee Member

Dr. David Witherington

Third Committee Member

Dr. Kamilla Venner

Language

English

Keywords

Humor styles, resilience, hope, psychological well-being

Document Type

Thesis

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Psychology Commons

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