The Mediating Effect of Humor on the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Depression in College Students

Hong, Eunyoung

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study examines the relationships among perceived stress, humor style, responding humor and depression among college students and the mediating effect of humor between perceived stress and depression. METHOD: During the period May 6-16, 2013, a convenience sample of 200 subjects was obtained from college K in city G. Data analysis was performed by Pearson's correlation coefficients and regression analysis.
RESULTS
The average BDI score was 7.7. There were 40 (20.0%), 16 (8.0%), 8 (4.0%), and 11 (9.0%) students with mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. The group with depressive symptoms constituted 3.5% of students. There was a significant positive correlation between negative stress perception and depression. Conversely, there was a significant negative correlation between adaptive humor style and negative stress perception. Ultimately, there were significant negative correlations between positive stress perception, adaptive humor style, maladaptive humor style, responding humor and depression. To test the mediating effect of adaptive humor style in the relationship between negative stress perception and depression, a Sobel test was performed and Z-score of 1.7736 (p=.076) obtained.
CONCLUSION
Though the mediating effect of an adaptive humor style on the relationship between perceived stress and depression was not significant, considering the negative correlation with depression, strategies to increase an adaptive humor style and responding humor is recommended to prevent depression in college students.