The Relationship Between Humor Styles, Optimism and Quality of life, and the Role of the Gender, Age and Socio-Economic Status: A Typological Approach

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Abstract
The present study aims to extend knowledge on the relationship between humor styles, optimism and quality of life by employing the typological approach. Therefore, humor profiles were examined as patterns of humor styles and compared within profiles. The sample of 725 respondents from Spanish community was tested using Humor Styles Questionnaire, Life Orientation Test – Revised and the 12-Item Short Form Survey. Initial insight into the relations between humor styles, optimism and quality of life was provided using correlations controlling for gender, age, and socio-economic status, showing that optimism and quality of life measures correlated positively with affiliative and self-enhancing humor, and negatively with self-defeating humor styles. Four humor profiles (humor enhancers, endorsers, deniers and detrimenters) were identified using latent profile analysis, with the pairwise comparisons between the profiles in the analysis of differences in optimism and quality of life. Results revealed higher optimism and quality of life at humor profiles whose members use positive humor styles compared to profiles whose members use only negative humor styles, or do not use any kind of humor. In addition, significant role of gender, age and socio-economic position on observed relationship were confirmed. Advantages of typological approach in research of humor styles were discussed.
Funding Information
  • Universität Greifswald

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