Journal Article

Effects of Classroom Humor Climate and Acceptance of Humor Messages on Adolescents’ Expressions of Humor

Lee, Chun-Yang, Chiang, Yi-Chen, Wang, Hong-Huei

2016

Overview

Background To adapt to dramatic changes from physical growth, physical development and the increasing demand of significant others, humor has been found to be an effective coping strategy. However, previous studies have found that adolescents start to express their humor styles with aggressive components which causes negative consequences, such as social anxiety and social loneliness. Therefore, the factors that influence adolescents’ humor styles, particularly negative ones, should be of concern. Objective The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to investigate the effects of the classroom humor climate and the effects of the personal acceptance of humor messages on adolescents’ expressions of humor and (2) to examine how the personal acceptance of humor messages moderates these relationships. Methods Four types of humor expressions based on the Taiwan Adolescent Humor Instruments were measured: self-deprecating, other-devaluing, body language, and witty response (Chiang et al. in Psychol Test 58:179–205, 2011 ). The current study used a cross-sectional design with data from a nationally representative random sample of 1718 students. The data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. Results Adolescents’ acceptance of humor messages influenced their use of each type of humor, and the classroom climate also modestly influenced their use of humor. When the classroom climate favored self-deprecating/other-devaluing humor, and adolescents more positively accepted self-deprecating/other-devaluing humor, they engaged in more of that type of humor. Conclusion Adolescents’ acceptance of humor messages should be assessed to identify and reduce maladaptive humor climates and to facilitate a more positive humor style in the classroom by promoting appropriate social norms.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Acceptance / Adolescents / Aggression / Anxiety / Behavior Standards / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Bullying / Case Studies / Child and School Psychology / Child Welfare / Children & youth / Classroom Environment / Classroom management / Classrooms / Cognitive Ability / Coping / Coping strategies / Coping style / Cross Cultural Studies / Data Analysis / Early Adolescents / Foreign Countries / Hierarchical Linear Modeling / High School Students / Humor / Individual Differences / Interpersonal Relationship / Junior High School Students / Kinesics / Loneliness / Mental Health / Nonverbal Communication / Original Paper / Personality Traits / Physical Development / Psychological Patterns / Psychology / Significant others / Social anxiety / Social Behavior / Social Environment / Social factors / Social norms / Students / Taiwan / Teaching Methods / Verbal Communication