Issues Ment Health Nurs. 1990;11(1):17-31. doi: 10.3109/01612849009014542.

Humor and its relationship to perceived health, life satisfaction, and morale in older adults.

Issues in mental health nursing

J M Simon

PMID: 2298559 DOI: 10.3109/01612849009014542

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between the use of humor as a coping strategy and health indicators as measured by perceived health, life satisfaction, and morale in older adults. A packet of questionnaires was administered to a nonrandom sample of 73 noninstitutionalized adults over age 55. Of the independent variables of situational humor, coping humor, residence, gender, age, living arrangements, and socioeconomic status (SES), none are significant predictors of perceived health at the .017 alpha level, whereas the variable of living arrangements is predictive of life satisfaction. Furthermore, coping humor and socioeconomic status are predictive of morale in older adults. This study adds to the knowledge of humor as a coping strategy as well as a developmental concept in older adults. Implications for nursing practice and research are discussed.

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MeSH terms

• Adaptation, Psychological
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Health Status*
• Humans
• Male
• Morale*
• Personal Satisfaction*
• Self Concept
• Socioeconomic Factors
• Wit and Humor as Topic*

Publication Types

• Journal Article

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