A longitudinal investigation of the mediating role of humor in the relationship between personality vulnerability factors and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Cross-sectional findings indicated that humor mediated between personality vulnerability factors (self-criticism and dependency) and depressive symptoms, although the specific mechanisms may differ across different samples. To address the limitations associated with cross-sectional designs, the present study sought to examine the longitudinal relationship among personality vulnerability factors, humor styles, and depressive symptoms. Data on Depressive Experience Questionnaire (DEQ), Humor Style Questionnaire (HSQ), and Center of Epidemiological Study – Depression (CESD) were collected from 301 participants at both baseline (data previously presented in Lin et al., 2021) and 2-month follow-up. Results indicated that self-enhancing humor mediated the longitudinal relationship between both personality vulnerability factors (self-criticism and dependency) and depressive symptoms, while affiliative humor mediated the longitudinal relationship between self-criticism and depressive symptoms. In sum, benign humor, especially self-enhancing humor, appeared to play a significant mediating role in the longitudinal relationship between personality vulnerability factors and depressive symptoms. Relevant research and clinical implications are discussed.