• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Humor styles predict emotional and behavioral responses to COVID-19
  • Contributor: Olah, Andrew R.; Ford, Thomas E.
  • Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2021
  • Published in: HUMOR, 34 (2021) 2, Seite 177-199
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1515/humor-2021-0009
  • ISSN: 1613-3722; 0933-1719
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: Abstract A correlational study (n = 180 adults) in the United States tested the hypothesis that self-directed humor styles predict emotional responses to COVID-19, specifically stress and hopelessness, and in turn predict engagement in protective behaviors. Results from a sequential mediation analysis supported our hypotheses. First, to the extent that people have a self-enhancing humor style they perceived less stress and hopelessness associated with COVID-19 and as a result reported engaging in more protective behaviors. Second, people higher in self-defeating humor style showed the opposite pattern; they perceived more stress and hopelessness due to COVID-19 and thus reported engaging in less protective behaviors. Implications for theory and application are discussed.