Humour, stress and coping in adults

Abstract

Purpose: The study focused on the functional character of humour, especially on its role in coping with stress. The purpose of the study was to assess the differences in humour coping by gender and age; to recognize the nature of the relationship between humour coping and coping styles, coping strategies and sense of stress; to recognize the mediating role of coping humour in relationship between coping with stress styles and sense of stress. Method: A total of 199 persons (113 females and 86 males) were included in the study, aged from 20 to 60 years. Mean age in the study group was 37.76 (SD = 12.04). The following methods was used in the study: CISS, Mini-COPE, Stress Sense Questionnaire (KPS), Coping Humour Scale (CHS) and socio-demographic questionnaire. Results: Data analysis show that women were less likely than men to cope with stress using humour. Younger people less likely than older to cope with stress using humour. There are positive correlations between humour coping with stress and coping styles and strategy – positive reinterpretation and growth and a sense of humour. Conclusions: Coping with stress using humour depends on gender and age and is positively correlated with adaptive coping stress style and coping strategies and negatively with sense of stress.