Grieving With Humor: A Correlational Study on Sense of Humor and Professional Grief in Palliative Care Nurses

Holist Nurs Pract. 2018 Mar/Apr;32(2):98-106. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000255.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between humor and professional grief. Findings confirm that these are not independent phenomena. Using humor as a coping mechanism emerged as a response to death-related work. Likewise, positive attitudes toward humor seem to alleviate the distress associated with end-of-life care.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Death
  • Female
  • Grief*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurses / psychology*
  • Palliative Care*
  • Wit and Humor as Topic / psychology*
  • Workforce