Research has shown public stigma to be a large barrier in mental health recovery. Humor based intervention programs have been found to be an... Show moreResearch has shown public stigma to be a large barrier in mental health recovery. Humor based intervention programs have been found to be an effective tool in reducing stigmatizing attitudes towards minority social groups and increasing positive attitudes towards controversial social topics. Using 131 participants, this study investigated the role of positive (affiliative and self-enhancing) and negative (aggressive and selfdefeating) humor styles in predicting post-intervention attitudinal change for a humor based anti-mental health stigma program. Participants completed humor styles, affirming and stigmatizing attitudes measures. Then as the intervention they watched a mental health related standup comedy routine. Stigma and affirming attitudes measures were repeated post-intervention. There was a significant inverse relationship found between individuals who enjoy affiliative (reduce intra-interpersonal tension by making others laugh) , self-enhancing (to help one cope) and self-defeating (excessively belittle of oneself) humor styles and stigmatizing attitudes. However, results indicate participant humor styles were not significant predictors of post intervention stigma and affirming attitudes scores. These findings advocate for the consideration of person-level factors in creating humor based intervention programs. Humor based intervention programs may need to be targeted towards specific types ofhumor styles in order to impact participant attitudes post intervention. M.S. in Psychology, May 2014 Show less
