Self-construal as moderator in the relationship between self-esteem and humour style

M.A. (Clinical Psychology)Humour serves various intrapersonal and interpersonal functions. The affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive and self-defeating humour styles are employed by individuals throughout their interactions and can influence their and others’ intrapersonal and interpersonal functioning. Humour styles have been related to positive attributes, such as self-esteem and optimism. Individual differences in the type of humour style displayed could furthermore be influenced by an individual’s cultural background. Self-esteem can be understood as an overall evaluation of one’s worth or value. Differences in self-esteem have been found between cultures but it is yet unclear how culture could influence the relationship between humour styles and self-esteem. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the role that culture could play in the relationship between humour style and self-esteem. In this study culture was conceptualised as self-construal which is determined by an individual’s cultural context of individualism or collectivism. This study involved 962 first year psychology students from the University of Johannesburg. The population in this university is multicultural with students of various race and culture. The Sense of Humour Questionnaire, Humour Styles Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and the Self-Construal Scale were used. A correlational analysis and moderated multiple regression analyses were employed to determine the extent to which independent and interdependent self-construal influenced the relationship between each of the four humour styles and self-esteem. All four humour styles correlated as expected with self-esteem. Affiliative and self-enhancing humour styles correlated positively and aggressive and self-defeating humour styles correlated negatively with self-esteem. Neither independent nor interdependent self-construal statistically significantly influenced the relationship between the affiliative, self-enhancing, or aggressive humour styles and self-esteem. Both independent and interdependent self-construal statistically significantly moderated the relationship between self-defeating humour style and self-esteem although the effect sizes were low. Excessive use of self-defeating humour has been associated with low self-esteem and emotional neediness..