Article Version of Record

Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Rnic, Katerina
Dozois, David J. A.
Martin, Rod A.

Abstract / Description

Cognitive distortions are negative biases in thinking that are theorized to represent vulnerability factors for depression and dysphoria. Despite the emphasis placed on cognitive distortions in the context of cognitive behavioural theory and practice, a paucity of research has examined the mechanisms through which they impact depressive symptomatology. Both adaptive and maladaptive styles of humor represent coping strategies that may mediate the relation between cognitive distortions and depressive symptoms. The current study examined the correlations between the frequency and impact of cognitive distortions across both social and achievement-related contexts and types of humor. Cognitive distortions were associated with reduced use of adaptive Affiliative and Self-Enhancing humor styles and increased use of maladaptive Aggressive and Self-Defeating humor. Reduced use of Self-Enhancing humor mediated the relationship between most types of cognitive distortions and depressed mood, indicating that distorted negative thinking may interfere with an individual’s ability to adopt a humorous and cheerful outlook on life (i.e., use Self-Enhancing humor) as a way of regulating emotions and coping with stress, thereby resulting in elevated depressive symptoms. Similarly, Self-Defeating humor mediated the association of the social impact of cognitive distortions with depression, such that this humor style may be used as a coping strategy for dealing with distorted thinking that ultimately backfires and results in increased dysphoria.

Keyword(s)

cognitive distortions humor depression dysphoria negative beliefs cognitive vulnerability

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2016-08-19

Journal title

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Volume

12

Issue

3

Page numbers

348–362

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Rnic, K., Dozois, D. J. A., & Martin, R. A. (2016). Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 12(3), 348–362. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v12i3.1118
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Rnic, Katerina
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Dozois, David J. A.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Martin, Rod A.
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-21T09:59:46Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-21T09:59:46Z
  • Date of first publication
    2016-08-19
  • Abstract / Description
    Cognitive distortions are negative biases in thinking that are theorized to represent vulnerability factors for depression and dysphoria. Despite the emphasis placed on cognitive distortions in the context of cognitive behavioural theory and practice, a paucity of research has examined the mechanisms through which they impact depressive symptomatology. Both adaptive and maladaptive styles of humor represent coping strategies that may mediate the relation between cognitive distortions and depressive symptoms. The current study examined the correlations between the frequency and impact of cognitive distortions across both social and achievement-related contexts and types of humor. Cognitive distortions were associated with reduced use of adaptive Affiliative and Self-Enhancing humor styles and increased use of maladaptive Aggressive and Self-Defeating humor. Reduced use of Self-Enhancing humor mediated the relationship between most types of cognitive distortions and depressed mood, indicating that distorted negative thinking may interfere with an individual’s ability to adopt a humorous and cheerful outlook on life (i.e., use Self-Enhancing humor) as a way of regulating emotions and coping with stress, thereby resulting in elevated depressive symptoms. Similarly, Self-Defeating humor mediated the association of the social impact of cognitive distortions with depression, such that this humor style may be used as a coping strategy for dealing with distorted thinking that ultimately backfires and results in increased dysphoria.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Rnic, K., Dozois, D. J. A., & Martin, R. A. (2016). Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 12(3), 348–362. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v12i3.1118
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1015
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1207
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v12i3.1118
  • Keyword(s)
    cognitive distortions
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    humor
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    depression
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    dysphoria
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    negative beliefs
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    cognitive vulnerability
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    3
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    348–362
  • Volume
    12
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record