Relationship between Sense of Humor and Attachment Style among Young Adults in Romantic Relationship

Abstract

Understanding the factors and complexities of human relationships, particularly romantic ones, is essential. This study investigated the relationship between a sense of humor and attachment styles in young adults involved in romantic relationships. Attachment theory suggests that early childhood experiences shape individuals’ expectations and relationship behaviors. Considering the potential role of humor in navigating interpersonal interactions and managing stress, this research explored how different attachment styles—secure, preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant—relate to various dimensions of humor, including affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, and self-defeating humor. The study included 102 participants aged 18 to 30 years who had been in committed romantic relationships for over six months. Participants completed measures assessing their attachment styles and humor styles. The results were analyzed separately for males and females. Female participants showed a significant positive correlation between anxious attachment and aggressive humor, as well as between avoidant attachment and self-defeating humor. They also displayed a significant negative correlation between anxious attachment and self-enhancing humor and between avoidant attachment and affiliative humor. In contrast, male participants indicated a significant positive correlation between anxious attachment and self-defeating humor and a significant negative correlation between avoidant attachment and affiliative humor. These findings suggest that attachment styles may be associated with distinct patterns of humor usage in romantic relationships, emphasizing the importance of humor in understanding relationship dynamics.