Background
This study examined the relationship between humor styles and three positive personal characteristics: optimism, grit, and self-kindness.
Hypotheses
These were (1) affiliative and self-enhancing humor would be positively related to optimism, grit, and self-kindness; (2) aggressive and self-defeating humor styles would be negatively related to optimism, grit, and self-kindness; and (3) all four styles together would account for significant variance in optimism, grit, and self-kindness.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size
There were 73 participants (81% female, mean age = 26 years) recruited through a university in a Native American community. They were 73% Native American, 29% White, 16% Hispanic, 3% Black, and 3% Asian.
Design
Participants completed a questionnaire assessing humor styles, optimism, grit, and self-kindness. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.
Results
The first hypothesis was partially supported with self-enhancing humor positively related to grit (r = .235, p < .05) and self-kindness (r = .309, p < .01) but not optimism while affiliative humor was unrelated to optimism, grit, or self-kindness. The second hypothesis was partially supported with self-defeating humor negatively related to optimism (r = -.462, p < .01), grit (r = -.254, p < .01), and self-kindness (r = -.402, p < .01) while aggressive humor was negatively related to optimism (r = -.256, p < .05) but unrelated to grit or self-kindness. The third hypothesis was fully supported with the humor styles together predicting significant variance in optimism (R2 = .247, p < .01), self-kindness (R2 = .291, p < .001), and grit (R2 = .137, p < .05).
Scientific Contribution
This study suggests that humor that is more self-enhancing and less self-defeating may be associated with positive personal characteristics. Additional longitudinal and qualitative data with Native American participants is being collected and will also be presented.