MANAGERIAL HUMOR, LEADERSHIP STYLE, AND JOB SATISFACTION IN CHINA AND THE U.S.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study compares humor use by superiors and subordinates in the U.S. and China as a function of gender and investigates the relationship between humor usage and job satisfaction in the two countries. The possible functioning of humor as a mediator in the association of leadership style with job satisfaction is also examined. Chinese and U.S. workers' self-reported humor use and job satisfaction did not differ. Males reported greater use of both positive and negative humor than did females in both countries. The American respondents perceived their supervisors as using both more positive humor and more negative humor than did the Chinese. Also, Americans perceived their supervisors as using both task and relationship leadership styles to a greater extent than did the Chinese. Further, the associations of leader task behavior and job satisfaction and of leader relationship behavior and job satisfaction were positive and were moderated by positive humor use such that high positive humor use enhanced the associations. The results suggest that gender explains differences in use at work more than does culture. The lack of significant national differences in self-reported humor use by the subordinates surveyed may be explained by a growing convergence of business practices globally. Keywords Humor, Leadership, Job Satisfaction, China, Gender Differences