An examination of the convergence between the conceptualization and the measurement of humor styles: A study of the construct validity of the Humor Styles Questionnaire

Heintz, Sonja; Ruch, Willibald

doi:10.1515/humor-2015-0095

Cited by 33 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Mediating effects were not found for Affiliative and Aggressive humor. Furthermore, these findings add to the already extensive literature that supports the discriminant and construct validity of the four scales of the HSQ ( Martin, 2015 ; see Heintz & Ruch, 2015 ). From a treatment perspective, increasing use of adaptive coping strategies for managing stressful situations (in particular use of Self-Enhancing humor) and decreasing use of maladaptive strategies may be useful for individuals experiencing depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression

2016

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Cognitive distortions are negative biases in thinking that are theorized to represent vulnerability factors for depression and dysphoria. Despite the emphasis placed on cognitive distortions in the context of cognitive behavioural theory and practice, a paucity of research has examined the mechanisms through which they impact depressive symptomatology. Both adaptive and maladaptive styles of humor represent coping strategies that may mediate the relation between cognitive distortions and depressive symptoms. The current study examined the correlations between the frequency and impact of cognitive distortions across both social and achievement-related contexts and types of humor. Cognitive distortions were associated with reduced use of adaptive Affiliative and Self-Enhancing humor styles and increased use of maladaptive Aggressive and Self-Defeating humor. Reduced use of Self-Enhancing humor mediated the relationship between most types of cognitive distortions and depressed mood, indicating that distorted negative thinking may interfere with an individual’s ability to adopt a humorous and cheerful outlook on life (i.e., use Self-Enhancing humor) as a way of regulating emotions and coping with stress, thereby resulting in elevated depressive symptoms. Similarly, Self-Defeating humor mediated the association of the social impact of cognitive distortions with depression, such that this humor style may be used as a coping strategy for dealing with distorted thinking that ultimately backfires and results in increased dysphoria.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression

2016

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“…Furthermore, it has been also suggested that the humour present in laughing at oneself could be associated with prosocial behaviours that are characteristic of agreeableness and extroversion . Therefore, further research is needed: first, to determine whether these discrepancies are explained by contextual factors (cultural or work‐based differences), and second, to continue exploring the construct/criterion validity of the self‐defeating humour dimension .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of humour on nursing professionals’ psychological well‐being goes beyond the influence of empathy: a cross‐sectional study

Navarro‐Carrillo

Torres‐Marín

Corbacho‐Lobato

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

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Scand J Caring Sci; 2020; 34: 474-483 The effect of humour on nursing professionals' psychological well-being goes beyond the influence of empathy: a cross-sectional study Background: Prior research has underlined the meaningful function of humour in nursing settings. Nonetheless, most of the empirical evidence on humour and nursing derives from approaches that mainly considered the potential beneficial effects of humour, neglecting potential detrimental effects of the dark side of humour. Moreover, little is known about whether the specific repercussions of humour on healthcare professionals' well-being would go beyond empathy-a construct robustly related to psychological well-being. Aims: To examine whether distinctive humour styles (affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive and self-defeating) are differentially associated with the psychological well-being of nursing professionals. Importantly, we also analysed whether these potential humour effects go over and above the influence of empathy-related traits (perspective-taking and personal distress). Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was used. A convenience sample of 104 nursing professionals with a minimum work experience of one year was recruited. Results: Our results revealed that a greater inclination to affiliative and self-enhancing humour styles was strongly related to higher scores on happiness, sociability, hope and life satisfaction among nursing professionals. Concerning maladaptive humour styles, aggressive humour was related to low life satisfaction and high nursing stress. By contrast, self-defeating humour-a theoretically detrimental humour style-was related to higher scores on health among these professionals. These effects emerged even after controlling for the influence of demographics (i.e., gender, age and years of experience), perspective-taking and personal distress. Conclusions: Our results suggest that adaptive humour styles may promote positive indicators of well-being, but they might not protect against negative indicators. Moreover, differential effects of maladaptive humour styles emerged. Whereas aggressive humoristic expressions can be interpreted as a sign of a poor psychological functioning, self-defeating humour may boost positive psychological outcomes among nursing professionals. These data can help to design more efficient humour-based intervention programmes aimed at minimising potential negative consequences of nursing activity.

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“…Although it has been shown that the study of the relationship between humor and (facets of subjective) well-being has several pitfalls (Heintz & Ruch, 2015;Ruch & Heintz, 2014), humor seems to have a potential to contribute to people's well-being. For example, correlational studies using (self-and peer-ratings of) character strengths consistently show robust positive relations in the upper range of the VIA strengths (e.g., Park, Peterson, & Seligman, 2004;Proyer, Ruch, and Buschor, 2013;Proyer, Gander, Wellenzohn, & Ruch, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Humor-based online positive psychology interventions: A randomized placebo-controlled long-term trial

Wellenzohn

Proyer

Ruch

2016

The Journal of Positive Psychology

Self Cite

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While correlational evidence exists that humor is positively associated with well-being, only few studies addressed causality. We tested the effects of five humor-based activities on happiness and depression in a placebo-controlled, self-administered online positive psychology intervention study (N = 632 adults). All of the five one-week interventions enhanced happiness, three for up to six months (i.e. three funny things, applying humor, and counting funny things), whereas there were only shortterm effects on depression (all were effective directly after the intervention). Additionally, we tested the moderating role of indicators of a person × intervention-fit and identified early changes in well-being and preference (liking of the intervention) as the most potent indicators for changes six months after the intervention. Overall, we were able to replicate existing work, but also extend knowledge in the field by testing newly developed interventions for the first time. While correlational evidence exists that humor is positively associated with well-being, only few studies addressed causality. We tested the effects of five humor-based activities on happiness and depression in a placebo-controlled, self-administered online positive psychology intervention (PPI) study (N = 632 adults). All of the five one-week interventions enhanced happiness, three for up to six months (i.e., three funny things, applying humor, and counting funny things), whereas there were only short-term effects on depression (all were effective directly after the intervention). Additionally, we tested the moderating role of indicators of a person×intervention-fit and identified early changes in well-being and preference (liking of the intervention) as the most potent indicators for changes six months after the intervention. Overall, we were able to replicate existing work, but also extend knowledge in the field by testing newly developed interventions for the first time. Findings are discussed with respect to the current literature.

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An examination of the convergence between the conceptualization and the measurement of humor styles: A study of the construct validity of the Humor Styles Questionnaire

Cited by 33 publications

References 20 publications

Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression

Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression

The effect of humour on nursing professionals’ psychological well‐being goes beyond the influence of empathy: a cross‐sectional study

Humor-based online positive psychology interventions: A randomized placebo-controlled long-term trial

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