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University of Montana

The Heart of the Matter: The Function and Relational Effects of Humor for Cardiovascular Patients

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This study examined the possibility that cardiovascular patient health is enhanced by the intentional communication of humor and associated increases in relationship satisfaction. In an effort to study the relationship between these variables it was predicted that relationship satisfaction mediates the effects between humor functions and health. Questionnaire data was collected from members of two national support groups for patients of cardiovascular disease. Findings support humor functions distinguished in previous studies and support the hypothesis that relationship satisfaction mediates health. Specifically, distancing humor negatively predicted relationship satisfaction and health. These findings offer new insight into the variability of humor effects.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (MA)
Grantor dc:publisher
University of Montana
Year
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Lockwood, Nicholas Lee

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1017
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarworks.umt.edu:etd-2036

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Montana Technology
Base URL
scholarworks.umt.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Lockwood, Nicholas Lee. The Heart of the Matter: The Function and Relational Effects of Humor for Cardiovascular Patients. University of Montana, 2011. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1017