Process effects of expression of humor on anxiety and depression

Abstract

The process in which expression of humor affects mental health was examined. A model was constructed based on the assumption that the expression of three types of humor promotes a humorous emotional state in the actor, and facilitates the attainment of social support from surrounding people. Thus, we proposed that these two variables affect the mental health of the person expressing humor. A covariance structural analysis was conducted, indicating that the expression of playful and self-degrading humor decreased anxiety through attainment of social support from surrounding others, while the expression of playful humor lead to a decrease in anxiety by evoking humorous emotion. Conversely, the expression of aggressive humor increased anxiety by hindering social support attainment. The above results suggest that the process through which humor affects mental health differs with the type of humor expressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract)