04 Impact of Sense of Humor on Perceived Stress among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Gendered Perspective

Abstract

The current study was envisioned to assess the relationship between perceived stress and numerous factors of sense of humor among undergraduate university medical students. The sample of this study (N = 220) was drawn conveniently and comprised of 104 female and 116 male undergraduate medical students with an age range of 18 to 30 years (M = 20.58, SD = 1.88). Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1993) and Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (James, Thorson, & Powell, 1991) were used to operationalize perceived stress and different factors of sense of humor, respectively. Multiple regression analysis reveals adaptive humor, appreciation of humor, and production and social use of humor as negative predictors of perceived stress whereas attitude towards humor and negation to use humor predict perceived stress in positive direction (R2 = -.76, F (5, 214) = 138.98, p < .001).