Understanding Linkages Between Dispositional Mindfulness, Humor Styles, and Mental Health Among Adolescents

Mindfulness and humor styles have been associated with mental health in previous research studies, primarily focusing on adult samples. However, there is a scarcity of research conducted on adolescents in India. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between mindfulness, humor styles, and mental health in a sample of 400 adolescents (200 males and 200 females) aged between 13 and 19 years. Participants completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Humor Styles Questionnaire, and Mental Health Inventory. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Results reveal that affiliative humor exhibits positive correlations with various subscales of mental health, as well as overall mental health scores. Self-enhancing humor also shows positive correlations with overall mental health scores and all mental health subscales except Perception of reality. Conversely, aggressive humor demonstrates significant negative correlations with all mental health subscales and overall mental health scores. Self-defeating humor is negatively correlated with overall mental health scores and all mental health subscales except Autonomy. Furthermore, describing, acting with awareness, and total mindfulness are significantly positively correlated with all mental health subscales and overall mental health scores. Among the predictors examined, acting with awareness and describing dimensions of mindfulness emerge as the strongest predictors of overall mental health scores and mental health subscales. Aggressive humor, affiliative humor, and self-enhancing humor also contribute to the prediction of mental health subscales and overall mental health scores. Based on these findings, it is recommended that mental health professionals consider integrating mindfulness and humor styles into their therapeutic approaches when working with adolescents.