Abstract

Humor has been observed, practiced, and documented as an essential feature of society for thousands of years. However, there is still no formalized or widely referenced clinical guidance on how to effectively and appropriately utilize humor in mental healthcare despite ample research over the last 70 years noting the many potential benefits. This lack of guidance may, at least in part, be due to unresolved concerns pertaining to the use of humor in counseling and healthcare settings. For instance, humor is believed by some to be potentially distracting or undermining to the counseling process if used inappropriately. This continued absence of guidance may be discouraging mental health providers from involving humor in their work, and thus, represents a frequently missed opportunity to address an underappreciated component of multicultural competence. As such, this systematic review aims to synthesize and analyze the literature to address two specific research questions: First, in what settings, populations, and contexts has the use of humor been studied as a therapeutic tool in mental healthcare? Second, what are the reported benefits, limitations, and mechanisms of humor-based therapeutic approaches in mental healthcare? Findings suggest that, if exercised with culturally informed considerations and care, humor can offer a wide array of benefits across various health care settings and diverse populations, such as the development of rapport and communication, the enhancement of cross-cultural patient care, and improved treatment outcomes across a wide range of diagnoses and cultural barriers.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Psychotherapy; Wit and humor-- Therapeutic use; Mental health services

Date of Award

2025

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Psychology

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Judy Ho Gavazza

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Psychology Commons

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