Interaction of Humor and Gender in Moderating Relationships Between Stress and Outcomes

This study is an examination of the interaction of humor and gender in moderating relationships among perceived stress, anxiety, and physical symptoms. Introductory psychology students (70 women, 61 men) completed self-report scales measuring perceived stress, humor, and symptomology. Multiple regre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of psychology 1998-05, Vol.132 (3), p.267-276
Main Author: Abel, Millicent H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anxiety
Anxiety - psychology
Cronbach's alpha
Female
Gender differences
Gender differentiation
Humans
Humor
Humour
Immune system
Male
Mental stress
Perceptions
Physiology
Psychology
Regression analysis
Sex Factors
Sexes
Stress
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Threats
Wit and Humor as Topic - psychology
Women
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Summary:This study is an examination of the interaction of humor and gender in moderating relationships among perceived stress, anxiety, and physical symptoms. Introductory psychology students (70 women, 61 men) completed self-report scales measuring perceived stress, humor, and symptomology. Multiple regression analyses revealed a moderating effect for humor between stress and anxiety, but only for men. When humor was low, a positive relationship was obtained between stress and anxiety; no relationship existed when humor was high. No gender differences were found in the significant moderating effect of humor between stress and physical symptoms. When humor was low, stress was related to physical symptoms; no relationship was found when humor was high. Overall, the findings supported humor as a moderator of stress; gender differences also existed for some outcomes.
ISSN:0022-3980
1940-1019
DOI:10.1080/00223989809599166