A pilot study on individual differences in humor style and their associations with self-rated physical health and blood pressure

A pilot study on individual differences in humor style and their associations with self-rated physical health and blood pressure. Download PDF Abstract Humor style, defined as the use and function of humor, may have implications for health. Research suggests certain humor styles are related to better mental health, but surprisingly little research assesses associations with physical health.

Further, no studies assess both positive and negative humor styles as they relate to physical health. The current study, therefore, investigated associations between positive (affiliative, self-enhancing) and negative (aggressive, self-defeating) humor styles and indices of physical health, specifically self-rated physical health and blood pressure. Secondary analysis on an existing dataset was conducted in which participants ( N = 143, 77.6% women, mean age = 18.92) attended a laboratory session during which time we assessed individual differences in humor styles using the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ).

Resting blood pressure and self-rated health were assessed as indicators of physical health, followed by health-relevant covariates (depressive symptoms, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, prescription medication) and demographics. To test primary hypotheses, data was analyzed using Pearson and Bayesian correlations followed by hierarchical linear and Bayesian multiple regressions. Positive humor styles were not related to self-rated health or resting blood pressure.

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