The Heart of the Matter: The Function and Relational Effects of Humor for Cardiovascular Patients

Author

Nicholas Lee Lockwood, The University of Montana

Year of Award

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Communication Studies

Department or School/College

Department of Communication Studies

Committee Chair

Stephen Yoshimura

Commitee Members

Alan Sillars, Steven Gaskill

Keywords

Cardiovascular, Humor, Interpersonal, Physical Health, Social Health, Communication, Psychological Health

Abstract

This study examined the possibility that cardiovascular patient health is enhanced by the intentional communication of humor and associated increases in relationship satisfaction. In an effort to study the relationship between these variables it was predicted that relationship satisfaction mediates the effects between humor functions and health. Questionnaire data was collected from members of two national support groups for patients of cardiovascular disease. Findings support humor functions distinguished in previous studies and support the hypothesis that relationship satisfaction mediates health. Specifically, distancing humor negatively predicted relationship satisfaction and health. These findings offer new insight into the variability of humor effects.

Recommended Citation

Lockwood, Nicholas Lee, "The Heart of the Matter: The Function and Relational Effects of Humor for Cardiovascular Patients" (2011). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 1017.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1017