An investigation into the use of humor for coping with stress

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to further understanding of how humor is used as a coping strategy and the potential influence of sex, temperament, and situational factors on its effectiveness. Study 1 describes the development of a new measure, the Waterloo Uses of Humor Inventory (WUHI), which was designed to gain a more comprehensive assessment of coping humor than was available with existing measures. The results of the exploratory factor analysis indicated 3 factors for the WUHI: Perspective-Taking Humor which describes adopting a humorous perspective on and sharing humorous stories about stressful events and personal short-comings; Aggressive Humor, the use of hostile humor when threatened; and Avoidant Humor, using humor to distract one's self and/or others from immediate stressors. Confirmatory factor analyses proved that the 3-factor solution was replicable and did not differ between the sexes. The 3 subscales also demonstrated good internal consistency and stability. Study 2 and Study 3 examined the validity of the WUHI scales. Study 2 investigated their relationships with previously established measures of humor, personality and coping. Study 3 investigated the ability of the WUHI scales to predict humor behaviour and moods in response to a stressful lab situation. The pattern of associations found with each WUHI scale across studies was unique and, for the most part, predictable based on theoretical considerations. The WUHI scales were also distinct from a measure of cheerful temperament in the prediction of outcomes in response to stress, hence providing support for their incremental validity and potential utility as predictors of behaviour and moods in situations where coping is relevant. The findings are discussed with respect to their implications for clinical interventions and future research.