James A. Thorson

Development and validation of a Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale.

Personal sense of humor has been recognized as a coping mechanism. Sense of humor as a construct, however, is multidimensional. Existing efforts to assess overall sense of humor are, for a number of reasons, deficient. The present study reports the development and factor analysis of a new Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale that may be useful in a variety of research and clinical applications.

Psychological health and sense of humor

Scores on the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS) are shown to be related positively to a number of factors associated with psychological health, such as optimism and self esteem, and negatively with signs of psychological distress such as depression. Humor is a multidimensional construct that seems to be intimately related to quality of life.

A revised death anxiety scale

Abstract This article reports on the development and factor analysis of a Revised Death Anxiety Scale that has an acceptable level of reliability (Cronbach alpha—.83) and that has been shown to be age-sensitive. Five studies using different versions of the scale are detailed, and data differentiating constructions of death anxiety for those high and for those low in death anxiety are presented.

Meanings of death and intrinsic religiosity

The objective of this study was to simplify understandings of relationships between multidimensional elements of the fear of death and dying with a unidimensional construct of intrinsic religiosity. A total of 346 individuals who ranged in age from 18 to 88 completed a death anxiety scale and a measure of intrinsic religious motivation. Respondents who were older and who were higher in intrinsic religiosity were significantly lower in death anxiety. Differing constructions of death and dying are examined.

Elements of death anxiety and meanings of death

The objectives of this study were: (1) to test hypotheses that women would have higher death anxiety than men and that older persons would have lower death anxiety than younger people; and (2) to probe for meanings of death among a large, heterogeneous sample. A group of 599 adolescents and adults completed a death anxiety scale; factor analysis of the resultant data revealed seven orthogonal factors. Both hypotheses were supported at acceptable levels of significance. Item analysis revealed additional information on meanings of death: Older respondents indicated a concern over the existence of an afterlife and over loss of personal control; women expressed more fear of pain and bodily decomposition. The strongest finding was variation in death anxiety by age, which confirms Butlers contention that the life review helps the aged to resolve conflicts and relieve anxiety.

Sense of humor and dimensions of personality

Previous researchers have demonstrated relationships between sense of humor and personality. Most have viewed sense of humor from the perspective of humor appreciation. Others have taken the approach that sense of humor has two factors: appreciation and creativity. Our approach has been to look at sense of humor as made up of creativity and several additional elements. The present study reports on the factor analysis of a Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale, as well as correlates of various elements of sense of humor with personality traits assessed by the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. Relationships by humor scale factors are reported, as are differences between those high and low in sense of humor within a sample of 426 individuals, 18 through 90 years of age.

Measurement of Sense of Humor

A sample of 365 individuals completed three scales designed to assess various elements of the personal construct of sense of humor. Data were factor-analyzed to estimate what elements the scales measure. Inadequacies are identified, and additional elements of sense of humor are recommended for a new, multidimensional humor scale.

Constructions of Religiosity and Death Anxiety in Two Cultures: The United States and Kuwait

Religiosity seems to moderate death anxiety, but not in all groups. The two constructs apparently are related mostly among those who are high in intrinsic religiosity or low in death anxiety, or both. Age seems to be an important factor in the development of this relationship. Samples from Kuwait (N = 294) and the United States (N = 279) completed instruments to assess death anxiety and intrinsic religious motivation. The Kuwaitis scored much higher than the Americans in both. State anxiety may have influenced the Kuwaitis’ death anxiety scores. Relationships and cross-cultural differences are examined.

Death Anxiety and Religion in an Older Male Sample

A death anxiety scale and a measure of intrinsic religious motivation were completed by 103 older white men. The correlation of scale scores was nonsignificant. Afterlife items on the death anxiety scale did correlate significantly with the intrinsic religious motivation score. Other elements of religiosity, such as religious behaviors, may be related to elements of death anxiety.

Depression and Sense of Humor

This research note provides partial confirmation of a negative relationship between depression and sense of humor previously reported by Deaner and McConatha in 1993. Here, for 213 women and 134 men, r was –.18.