Scores on the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS) are shown to be related positively to a number of factors associated with psychological health, such as optimism and self esteem, and negatively with signs of psychological distress such as depression. Humor is a multidimensional construct that seems to be intimately related to quality of life. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 53: 605–619, 1997.