The effect of couples' styles of using humor on their relationship satisfaction and coping with stress as a couple

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between couples' levels of dyadic coping with stress as a couple and their relationship satisfaction through the mediating role of humor styles in a dyadic model. It was expected that the levels of dyadic coping with stress would predict relationship satisfaction through humor styles. The sample of the study consisted of 528 participants and 264 couples who were 18 years of age and older, living in Turkey, and in a romantic relationship (dating, engaged, married). Participants completed the Personal Information Form, Dyadic Coping with Stress Scale, Humor Styles Scale, and Relationship Satisfaction Scale. The hypotheses of the study were tested using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). SPSS 20, APIM_SEM, and APIMoM applications were used for the analysis of the study. The results of the study indicated that when the effects of humor styles were controlled, the variables of total and positive dyadic coping with stress predicted relationship satisfaction only through the actor effect, while negative dyadic coping with stress predicted relationship satisfaction through the actor effect in an affiliative, self-enhancing, self-defeating styles and partner effect on aggressive humor styles. When examining the mediating effects of humor styles, common results were observed in only two models for both women and men. It was found that only the aggressive humor style predicted relationship satisfaction through the actor effect in the variable of total dyadic coping with stress. Similarly, in the variable of negative dyadic coping with stress, only the aggressive humor style predicted relationship satisfaction through the actor effect. The findings of the study were discussed in light of other relevant studies in the field.