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 vulnerabilityPersistent 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
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ejop.v12i3.1118.pdfAdobe PDF - 1.03MBMD5: bfcc23369792559c6bbe6561fc51faeb
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Rnic, Katerina
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Dozois, David J. A.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Martin, Rod A.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-21T09:59:46Z
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Made available on2018-11-21T09:59:46Z
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Date of first publication2016-08-19
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Abstract / DescriptionCognitive 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
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationRnic, 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
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ISSN1841-0413
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1015
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1207
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v12i3.1118
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Keyword(s)cognitive distortionsen_US
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Keyword(s)humoren_US
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Keyword(s)depressionen_US
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Keyword(s)dysphoriaen_US
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Keyword(s)negative beliefsen_US
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Keyword(s)cognitive vulnerabilityen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleCognitive distortions, humor styles, and depressionen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue3
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Journal titleEurope's Journal of Psychology
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Page numbers348–362
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Volume12
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record