Influence of Humor Styles on Psychological Well-Being Among College Students

Abstract Humor plays an important role in enhancing joy, relieving pent-up emotions, and improving mood, thereby positively influencing psychological well-being. It can become a potential coping mechanism for college students navigating substantial transitional stress that comes along with this stage. The present study examined the influence of humor styles on psychological well-being among college students and assessed the moderating role of gender. 170 students (male = 87; female = 83) aged 18–25 were randomly selected for the study. They were evaluated using the Humor Style Questionnaire, developed by Martin et al. (2003), and the Psychological Well-being Scale, developed by Ryff (1989). The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Results showed that adaptive humor was linked to higher psychological well-being, and maladaptive humor with lower well-being among the participant group. Although female participants reported significantly higher psychological well-being than males, no interaction was found between gender, humor styles, and well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of adaptive humor in promoting well-being among college students, and cultivating it can enhance emotional stability and mental health among these cohorts. Interventions that encourage adaptive humor may help students better navigate the academic and personal challenges of the college years. Keywords: Humor, humor styles, psychological well-being, adaptive humor, maladaptive humor, college students..