Relationship between types of humour and stress response and well‐being among children in Japan

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between three types of children's humour (aggressive, self-defeating, and playful) and the children's stress response and well-being in the Japanese context, where a collectivistic culture is prevalent. To do so, 500 study participants (250 elementary and 250 junior high school students) were recruited. The participants reported the types of humour, stress responses, and level of well-being that they experienced. After correlation analysis, aggressive humour and playful humour showed a positive correlation with stress responses; in addition, aggressive humour showed a negative correlation with wellbeing. Self-defeating humour showed a negative correlation with stress responses and a positive correlation with well-being. We also conducted a cluster analysis using the scores for the three types of humour, analysing four groups: "aggressive humourists" (respondents who demonstrated above-average aggressive humour and scored average for all other humours), "nonhumourists" (below-average humour in all areas), "self-deprecating humourists" (above-average self-defeating humour, below-average aggressive humour, and average playful humour), and "multiple humourists" (above-average humour in all areas). Upon comparing the results of stress responses and well-being scores among the four groups, we found that self-deprecating humourists reported the highest level of well-being. These results show that in collectivistic cultures, selfdefeating humour may be adaptive.

Students’ Perception of Teachers’ Humor Predicts Their Mental Health

“…Although a large amount of data was collected, which not only includes perceived teacher humor and mental health, but other variables such as a sense of humor, the perceived class climate, the motivation for learning, relationships with teachers, and relationships with friends; only the variables used in this study are considered in the following analysis. Other studies using this dataset include Tsukawaki (2018); Tsukawaki et al. (2019)—in which the relationship between children’s sense of humor and school adaptability is examined—and Tsukawaki et al.…”

Humour and the stretchy temporality of peer conflict in a group early childhood setting: An analysis of relational power

“…From this perspective it is also possible to see Hang's use of body clowning which mimicked the loss of control over her body, as a self-deprecating move which Tsukawaki et al (2019) found to be a kind of humour that is particularly beneficial in some communities. Their study shows that deploying self-deprecating humour correlates positively with emotional wellbeing and self-esteem among Japanese children.…”

A Systematic Literature Review on Humour Advertising: The ADO Model Approach

“…(Martin et al, 2003). It has a positive correlation with undesirable traits such as anxiety, lack of self-worth, and depression, which has an adverse effect on children as with adults (Tsukawaki et al, 2019;Fox et al, 2013). Low self-esteem and a willingness to let others make fun of one-self are common traits of those who engage in self-defeating humour (Anderson & Di Tunnariello, 2016).…”