Humor styles, self-esteem, and subjective happiness

Psychol Rep. 2014 Oct;115(2):517-25. doi: 10.2466/07.02.PR0.115c18z6. Epub 2014 Aug 25.

Abstract

Summary.-This study examined how humor styles could mediate the effect of self-esteem on subjective happiness. 227 Hong Kong undergraduate students completed the Humor Styles Questionnaire, the Roxsenberg Self-esteem Scale, and the Subjective Happiness Scale. Results showed adaptive humor styles (affiliative humor and self-enhancing humor) significantly predicted self-esteem and subjective happiness and mediated the relationship between self-esteem and subjective happiness. Maladaptive humor styles (aggressive humor and self-defeating humor) did not strongly predict self-esteem or subjective happiness. The mediation effects of humor styles found in the present research provided useful suggestions for future studies.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Happiness*
  • Hong Kong
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Self Concept*
  • Wit and Humor as Topic / psychology*
  • Young Adult