By: Alina B. John
Introduction
Adolescence -a transient phase from childhood to adulthood , a phase packed with significant changes and challenges . From academic pressure and social anxiety to family issues , teens struggle with a wide array of stressors . Amidst all this , developing resilience - the ability to overcome difficulties- is an important skill when facing these challenges . It is a well known fact , that humor -largely underrated- provides an unlikely yet vital coping mechanism during these formative years . This paper discusses humor with relation to teen resilience and its overall effect on the emotional well being of teenagers along with how humor helps teens deal with stressful situations , develop bonds and view the world through a positive lens.
Definition of Key Terms
1) Humor: is a funny or amusing quality which can be found in different forms like jokes or puns , or even in situations that are unexpected or surprising.
2) Coping mechanism: a conscious or subconscious adjustment or adaptation that decreases tension and anxiety in a stressful situation or experience.
3) Resilience: the ability to overcome difficulties
Humor as a Coping Mechanism
A well known fact- backed up by numerous studies -is that Humor is one of the best coping strategies. Humor and laughter are considered therapeutic for relieving stress and anxiety in stressful situations, while also having the power to reduce perceived stress and increase positive emotional states.
Humor can be used to:
・Look for the fun: By being able to see the absurdity in a bad situation, teens are taking part in reframing the situation and their stress response will be decreased
・Divert from stressors: Laughter can force you to take a break from thoughts and emotions that may feel overwhelming.
・Strengthen social connections: Laughter brings people together, leading to feelings of connection and belonging .
・Encourage positive emotions: Laughter releases endorphins- the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Impact of Humor on Teen Emotional and Mental Health
While humor might not be the ultimate cure for mental and emotional health challenges, it can certainly help one in battling those challenges, by providing a much-needed sense of relief and perspective.
Teen years can be challenging , and amidst all these challenges, jokes and funny moments can help make such situations more manageable by:
・Building resilience through laughter:
Laughter is not simply a source of pleasure. It forms the foundations of resilient adolescents. Resilient adolescents recover from disappointments more quickly than others. Joking with them helps them to learn to appreciate the other side of the problem. It helps develop an optimistic outlook.
・Improves Mood: Laughter helps elevate mood by releasing Endorphins-the bodys feel good chemicals and enhances happiness, helping teens maintain a positive outlook.
・Acts as Stress Reliever: It also reduces stress causing hormones inducing relaxation.
・Fosters Friendship: Making people laugh together fosters strong friendships. Restore normal social functioning in adolescents. It makes them stronger. Be it a comedy film, or a funny book, all induce laughter and improve their psychological well being.
・Promotes Creative thinking: Humor encourages out-of-the-box thinking and helps teens build a unique perspective.
Types of humor
There are multiple ways in which one can inculcate humor in their lives, some of them being: ・Puns: Language humor such as jokes about homonyms or other forms of wordplay. Puns are also a great way of expressing one’s artistic and intellectual abilities.
・Physical comedy: Including the pratfalls and exaggerated facial expressions . Physical comedy can not only help people laugh but also help create a light and fun environment.
・Verbal Irony: Also known as sarcasm, is when one uses the opposite language of what one means to convey a message for humorous purposes. This comes in handy when one is having boring conversations.
・Media: Consuming media like comedy films, comics or light-hearted books and jokes can also help one inculcate humor in their day-to-day life.
Conclusion
The role of humor in teens is complex and multifaceted. It isn’t only meant for leisure , but is also a means of socialization, self expression and coping strategy .For teenagers, humor is a way through which they can build bonds with others, appeal to their peers and also create a unique identity for themselves. Overall, Humor is a great tool to help teens navigate through the challenges of adolescence and help them become well-rounded individuals.
References:
1) Abel, M. H. (n.d.). Humor, stress, and coping strategies.
2) Simione, L., & Gnagnarella, C. (2023). Humor Coping Reduces the Positive Relationship between Avoidance Coping Strategies and Perceived Stress: A Moderation Analysis. Behavioral Sciences, 13(2), 179. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13020179
3) Dionigi, A., Duradoni, M., & Vagnoli, L. (2023). Understanding the association between humor and emotional distress: The role of light and dark humor in predicting depression,
anxiety, and stress. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 19(3), 358–370. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.10013
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