HUMOUR STYLES AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND LONELINESS

This study investigated whether the different humour styles mediate the relationship between self-esteem and loneliness. A sample of 689 undergraduate students completed self-report measures of self-esteem, humour styles and loneliness. Previous research (Cacioppo Patrick, 2009) indicates an inverse relationship between self-esteem and loneliness and factors within the social environment have been argued to play a role in this relationship. Humour styles used in social interactions have been found to be associated with different levels of self-esteem and loneliness. Significant specific indirect mediation effects were found for all four humour styles. The interpersonally beneficial humour styles contributed to lower perceived loneliness, whereas use of the interpersonally detrimental humour styles resulted in higher experiences of loneliness. The results are discussed in terms of the individual and social consequences of the humour styles.