Department of Early Childhood and Special Education, Valdosta State University, 1500 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31698-0092, USA.
Rehabil Psychol. 2013 Feb;58(1):89-97. doi: 10.1037/a0031556.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether coping humor predicted certain measures of family functioning in parents of children with disabilities.
Seventy-two parents of children diagnosed primarily with autism spectrum disorders and multiple disabilities completed the Coping Humor Scale (CHS) and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES IV). The FACES IV measures two major dimensions of family functioning: cohesion and flexibility. The CHS measures the degree to which participants use humor to cope with stressful experiences in their lives. Optimal functioning of the family is theorized to be based on a balanced level of both cohesion and flexibility. In the present study, coping humor was hypothesized to predict balanced cohesion as well as balanced flexibility. The data were analyzed using single and hierarchical linear regression.
The results of the regressions indicated that coping humor significantly, albeit weakly, predicted cohesion and flexibility. However, the effects of education level and the number of children in the family also had a significant predictive effect on cohesion and flexibility.
Contributions of the study, limitations, and implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
本研究旨在探讨应对幽默是否能预测残疾儿童父母的某些家庭功能指标。
72 名被诊断为自闭症谱系障碍和多重残疾儿童的父母完成了应对幽默量表（CHS）和家庭适应与凝聚力评估量表（FACES IV）。FACES IV 测量家庭功能的两个主要维度：凝聚力和灵活性。CHS 衡量参与者在生活中使用幽默应对压力体验的程度。理论上，家庭的最佳功能是基于凝聚力和灵活性的平衡水平。在本研究中，应对幽默被假设可以预测平衡的凝聚力以及平衡的灵活性。使用单变量和分层线性回归分析数据。
回归的结果表明，应对幽默虽然微弱但显著地预测了凝聚力和灵活性。然而，教育水平和家庭中孩子的数量对凝聚力和灵活性也有显著的预测作用。
讨论了研究的贡献、局限性以及对未来研究和临床实践的意义。
