The effect of humor coping with interpersonal stress on the relationship between cynical hostility, conscious defensiveness, and depression

Abstract

This study examined the effect of humor coping with interpersonal stress on the relationship between cynical hostility, conscious defensiveness, and depression. University students (N = 375; 214 men and 161 women) participated in a questionnaire survey. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses by sex showed that humor coping with interpersonal stress alleviated the detrimental influence of cynical hostility on depression only for men with low conscious defensiveness. For women, humor coping with interpersonal stress played a role in alleviating depression independently of hostility and conscious defensiveness. These findings suggest that there are differences between men and women in the role of humor coping with interpersonal stress in affecting depression. Methodological limitations of the present study are discussed, along with possible improvements for future studies. humor coping, interpersonal stress, cynical hostility, conscious defensiveness, depression.