Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between humour styles, personality traits and coping with stress. The aim was to explore and determine the mediating effect of humour styles on personality traits and coping with stress. The impact of humour on psychological well-being factors has been explored but none have explored the three variables presented in this study. The three variables were assessed via the humour styles questionnaire (HSQ), South African personality inventory (SAPI-60-E) and coping scales of the stress and coping inventory (SCI). This study adopted a quantitative research approach where a correlation analysis was done to determine the relationships between the three variables, followed by a regression analysis to determine if a mediation relationship existed between the variables. The results found that there were statistically significant relationships between variables. Positive correlations were found between the affiliative and self-enhancing humour style and coping with stress while the self-defeating humour style was found to negatively relate to coping with stress. Some results were expected and related to existing literature; however, there were findings, such as the relationships between self-enhancing and self-defeating humour and neuroticism, which did not coincide with existing literature. Within the mediation findings, self-defeating humour mediating conscientiousness and coping with stress and self-enhancing humour mediating neuroticism and coping with stress were also not expected. This study provided new insights into the personality traits of the SAPI and their relationship with humour styles and coping with stress. The findings demonstrate how humour can be used positively and negatively to cope with stresses within individuals’ daily lives.
Keywords: Personality, Humour, Humour Styles, Stress, Coping with Stress, Mediation