Humor’s Positive Effect on Mental Illness

Abstract

Unbeknownst by many, humor can be an integral part to reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in individuals. This paper identifies the many ways in which humor can be incorporated into mental health coping mechanisms. Through the use of affiliative and self-enhancing humor, people can experience better moods. Also, by using this type of humor and from hearing prominent comedians, individuals will become increasingly more comfortable to share their personal feelings about the symptoms they suffer from. Despite popular belief and the unfortunate fact that many famous comedic performers suffering from mental illness, other research suggests that the source of their personal struggles does not come from performing comedy. In-fact performing comedy has proven to increase levels of self-esteem. Taking in all of these benefits from using humor as a treatment for depression and anxiety only shows the need for more psychiatrists and therapists to incorporate it into their practices.

Humor’s Positive Effect on Mental Illness

Introduction

With increased awareness of a growing mental health epidemic, researchers, psychologists and clients alike are urgently searching for better ways to treat these issues. An unlikely source of help may be the answer to solving a part of this worldwide problem. By eliciting better moods, creating a more open environment to share feelings and increasing self-esteem, humor has proven to be an efficient way to help decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Whether it is certain comedians, personal humor styles, films, or television shows, these treatment types are showing large strides in the fight to eliminate mental illness.

Happiness can be achieved in many different ways but sometimes it can be difficult to evoke and maintain it. An individual’s natural humor style such as affiliative or self-enhancing has been shown to strengthen their social bonds and maintain a humorous outlook in difficult situations. A study conducted at a US college on 306 of its students found that a self-defeating humor style emitted, “increased susceptibility for depression, depressive symptoms, feelings of anxiety, and neuroticism” (Tucker et al., 2013, p.823). The data that was collected here also resembled that of previous studies done in this area of research. Strong evidence supporting individual’s use of affiliative and self-enhancing humor to mitigate the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms shows that specific humor style can dictate mood and help lead more people to happiness.

Not only can humor types like affiliative and self-enhancing entice better moods but certain research suggests that they can also help decrease suicide ideation symptoms as well. A recent study conducted on participants at a midwestern university found convincing evidence that affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles in particular, decreased suicide ideation where as self-defeating and low-affiliative styles increased suicide ideation (Meyer et al., 2017, p.337).

Figure 1

A Significant Moderation of the Affiliative Humor Style on Borderline PersonalityTraits and Suicide Ideation

Figure 2

A Significant Moderation of the Self-Enhancing Humor Style on Borderline Personality Traits and Suicide Ideation

The Five Factor Borderline Inventory (FFBI) is a 120-item self-report measure used to assess BPD traits.

From “Humor Styles Moderate Borderline Personality Traits and Suicide Ideation,” by Meyer, N. A., Helle, A. C., Tucker, R. P., Lengel, G. J., Deshong, H. L., Wingate, L. R., & Mullins-Sweatt, S. N., 2017, Psychiatry Research (249). Retrieved from Science Direct website: http://www.sciencedirect.com

These graphs both show the relationships that all four types of humor have with rates of suicide ideation and how high affiliative and high self-enhancing humor emits much lower levels than their counterparts. So just by incorporating certain types of humor into everyday life even thoughts of suicide can decrease which shows how powerful positive comedy can truly be.

Even though affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles can significantly increase an individual’s self-esteem levels, it may be even more important to avoid using aggressive, self-defeating humor. Steiger, Formann and Burger (2011) concluded in their research that, “Self-defeating humor correlates positively with loneliness, shyness, depression, and negatively with explicit (i.e., conscious, deliberate) self-esteem” (p.747). They also found that, “individuals possessing “damaged” self-esteem have very similar characteristics as individuals using self-defeating humor” (p.747). With these styles of humor showing such negative impacts on self-esteem, one must be cautious when using it toward others or when experiencing it from someone else. Especially if an individual is already experiencing anxiety or depression symptoms, it would be prudent to avoid these types of humor.

While evidence shows correlations between personally expressed humor styles and mental illness symptoms, it also reveals that individuals react similarly when perceiving certain humor styles from someone else. Most often people immediately think of comedians as their main source of humor from another person; however even more effective and better for mental health is that of humor between normal, everyday people. Dr. Arnie Cann (2014), a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina, explained “the sharing of humor contributes to building relationships” and that “dealing effectively with the stress that life brings you and developing a social support network you can rely on when you face threats are very basic elements in establishing and maintaining well-being in all aspects of life” (Cann and Kuiper, p. 412). Cann’s studies have shown through his invention of the Humor Climate Questionnaire that building and maintaining face-to-face relationships with family, friends and coworkers with the incorporation of humor can in fact help sustain an individual’s mental health.

A more unknown benefit of humor is its effectiveness on allowing individuals to open up about their feelings when dealing with depression and anxiety. A 1996 National Mental Health Association survey found that 54% of people “think of depression as a sign of personal or emotional weakness” (as cited in Molloy, 2015). Still today, most people who are experiencing mental issues tend to have a hard time talking about them and are incapable of feeling comfortable enough to express how they truly feel, especially with psychiatrists. Unfortunately in society today, “public stigma is a barrier for people with mental illness” (Corrigan et al., 2014, p. 397). However, “humor may have the potential to decrease stigmatizing attitudes in the context of disclosure” (Corrigan et al., 2014, p. 397). In a study examining comedian David Granirer’s stand-up routine where he talks about his own battle with mental illness and the audience’s reactions to it, researchers found that “comics talking about their experiences with mental health can be a powerful vehicle for stigma change” (Corrigan et al. 2014, p.397). A study conducted by Wright, Twardzicki, Gomez and Henderson (2014) in a woman’s prison found that after witnessing a comedy show, the inmates showed improvements in their willingness to open up and discuss about their mental health issues (p.423). So even in a place where mental illness and self harm rates are extremely high, humor incorporated coping mechanisms were shown to positively impact the stigma of speaking up about symptoms of depression, anxiety and self harm. If these same practices were to be used by trained psychiatrists and therapists, they would likely witness their patients feel more comfortable with sharing their symptoms too.

Famous celebrities and comedians alike are beginning to openly discuss their battles with mental illness. Although it may be difficult to overcome the stigma of talking about depression, Sarah Silverman (Upworthy, October 26, 2015) in an interview with Upworthy shared that, “I’m a comic that offends people sometimes,” and “I don’t mean to, but that’s just a part of it. I make my own choices, from my own gut, what my insides feel like, what I feel is funny, what I want to say, and whether I feel good about saying that or not.” Silverman is adamant on being open about her experiences and feels that by sharing them, it will hopefully allow other people to know that they are not alone. Sometimes it is alright to not be politically correct, because although it may offend some people, it could benefit many more and possibly save their lives.

There is, however, some information and instances that show the dark side of humor, specifically when performing it professionally. Perhaps the most famous instance is that of beloved comedian Robin Williams’ suicide. A case study done by Hassaan Tohid (2016) noted that with being at the pinnacle of the comedy industry, there is strong reason to believe that the pressure of always being in the spotlight caused him to take his own life (p.178). Another study done on 53 male British comedians who were born between 1900 and 1954 found that “those identified as the funnier members of the partnership were, on an adjusted basis, more than three times more likely to die prematurely when compared to their more serious comedy partners” (Stewart and Thompson, 2015, p.258). So throughout history it has been seen that elite comedians are at a greater risk for premature death. However, many other factors need to be taken into account when looking at their deaths, particularly with suicides. For instance, in Robin Williams’ case, he was also dealing with the four main risk factors that can lead to suicide, which include, “relationship problems, financial problems, drug addiction, and major depression” (Tohid, 2016, p.178). With comedy showing so many signs of positive influences on mental health, there is not enough convincing evidence to show a direct correlation between performing comedy and experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms.

Still, many people believe that people who perform comedically are masking their true feelings through their comedy and that the only way they can battle their depression is by making others laugh. This may be true as many notable comedians such as Jim Carrey, Stephen Fry, and Ellen Degeneres have opened up about their personal struggles with mental illness (Barrell, 2016). However, the root of their issues may not be entirely from their performing of comedy as there is research that shows surprising results otherwise. A group of mentally ill adults participated in a study where they were taught how to do stand-up comedy and once their interventions were over they showed signs that their self-esteem had increased (Rudnick et al., 2013, p.737). Although this was just a small sample size it shows that even though comedians may suffer from mental illness, the fact that they are performing comedy more than likely is not causing their symptoms. If anything, they are using comedy as an outlet to relieve stress and to get their minds off of personal problems; if comedians or average citizens alike did not have the opportunity to perform, then who knows how bad their symptoms could possibly get.

Although it may seem foolish to incorporate humor into practices of reducing mental health issues, it is no laughing matter. Though eliciting better moods, forming a welcoming environment to express feelings, and increasing levels of self-esteem, humor has proven over and over again to be a highly effective way to combat anxiety and depression symptoms. Whether it is through using positive, self-enhancing humor in everyday situations, listening to others share their own experiences, or even learning how to perform comedy, all of these practices can help. Comedy is a powerful tool and an unlikely source for having such a positive influence on an individual’s mental health. Not only can it make a difference at home but at work and in therapy as well. With all the data suggesting its crucial role in the reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms it would be foolish not to continue to use humor as a treatment option.

References

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