On the association between humor and burnout

Using a mail-out questionnaire, this study investigated the association bet ween humor and the three dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, deper sonalization and personal accomplishment). For the sample of 192 nursing fa culty living in northern Texas, humor was used as a coping strategy in stre ssful situations. Tenure status showed a strong association to increase hum or usage. Differences between high versus low users of humor were compared High users of humor reported lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalizati on with a high sense of personal accomplishment as compared to low users of humor. The association between humor and the dimensions of burnout showed a positive correlation between humor and personal accomplishment, a negativ e correlation was observed between humor and depersonalization. These resul ts suggest that when humor is used as a coping mechanism there is a reducti on in depersonalization and an increased sense of personal accomplishment.