Humor Types Show Different Patterns of Self-Regulation, Self-Esteem, and Well-Being

Humor styles have been found to be associated with well-being, however, no study has addressed the distinct well-being associations
of combinations of humor styles, that is, humor types, yet. The present study thus aimed at investigating which combinations
of humor styles exist and to which extent these humor types are associated with well-being. In an online questionnaire, the
Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ, Martin et al. J Res Pers 37:48–75, 2003), self-regulatory strategies, self-esteem, and well-being instruments were administered to a German sample. Exploratory and
confirmatory factor analyses replicated the underlying structure of the HSQ. With hierarchical clustering, we found evidence
for three humor types (endorsers, humor deniers, and self-enhancers), which differed in group means for self-esteem, self-regulatory
strategies, and well-being. Findings provide further evidence for the positive well-being correlates of self-enhancing humor,
and distinctly address the positive correlates of aggressive and self-defeating humor being absent. It is discussed that humor
styles cannot be conceptualized as beneficial or detrimental per se, but have to be regarded in context.