Laughing over a Drink: Exploring the Relationship Between Humor Styles and Drinking Behavior

TL;DR

This study explores how different types of humor relate to drinking habits, finding that self-defeating humor is linked to higher alcohol use.

Contribution

The study identifies self-defeating humor as a novel predictor of alcohol-related behaviors.

Findings

Male sex and younger age are significantly associated with higher alcohol use.

Self-Defeating humor is a significant positive predictor of alcohol-related behavior.

Abstract

Humor is a key component of social relationships and has been linked to both positive health outcomes and detrimental effects, depending on the style of humor employed. However, its associations with alcohol-related behaviors remain largely underexplored. The present study investigated the relationships between humor styles, gender, age, and alcohol use. A total of 392 adults (123 males and 269 females), aged between 18 and 74 years (M = 36.64; SD = 13.11), completed the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ). This data was used to assess humor styles and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to evaluate alcohol consumption patterns. Results indicated that male sex and younger age were significantly associated with higher alcohol use. Moreover, Self-Defeating humor emerged as a significant positive predictor of alcohol-related behavior. These findings suggest that certain maladaptive humor styles, particularly Self-Defeating humor, may play a role in reinforcing problematic drinking behaviors, possibly by serving as a dysfunctional coping mechanism in social contexts.