The association between sense of humour and trauma-related mental health outcomes: two exploratory studies

Boerner, Michaela; Joseph, Stephen; Murphy, David

Abstract

Two studies (n = 73, n = 132) explored the association between sense of humour and trauma related well-being outcomes. It was found that sense of humour was not associated with reports of posttraumatic growth as measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Self-enhancing humour was positively associated with positive changes as measured by the CiOQ-P. Benign humour styles were associated negatively with emotion regulation difficulties and negative changes (CiOQ-N). Self-defeating humour was associated positively with negative changes, avoidant states and emotion regulation difficulties. The results suggest that self-enhancing humour could be helpful in order to cope with trauma.

Citation

Boerner, M., Joseph, S., & Murphy, D. (in press). The association between sense of humour and trauma-related mental health outcomes: two exploratory studies. Journal of Loss and Trauma, https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2017.1310504

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 9, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 27, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 20, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 20, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Loss and Trauma
• Print ISSN: 1532-5024
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-5032
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2017.1310504
• Keywords: Humour, Posttraumatic growth, Trauma, Posttraumatic stress, Well-being
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/852380
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15325024.2017.1310504
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Loss and Trauma on 27/03/2017 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15325024.2017.1310504