TY - JOUR AU - Führ, Martin AU - Platt, Tracey AU - Proyer, René T. PY - 2015/08/25 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Testing the relations of gelotophobia with humour as a coping strategy, self-ascribed loneliness, reflectivity, attractiveness, self-acceptance, and life expectations JF - The European Journal of Humour Research JA - EJHR VL - 3 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - 10.7592/EJHR2015.3.1.fuhr UR - https://europeanjournalofhumour.org/ejhr/article/view/87 SP - 84-97 AB - <p><em><span lang="EN-GB">Gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) was studied in a sample of N = 1,322 Danish adolescents aged 11 to 16. When using a measure of coping humour in three different respects (using humour (1) to overcome uncertainty and stress, (2) in relation to aggression and sexuality, and (3) to get cheered up)<span style="text-decoration: underline;">,</span> it was indicated that the fear of being laughed at existed independently from the use of humour as a coping strategy. It is suggested that interventions targeting the positive use of laughter and humour may have a potential for increasing the well-being of adolescents with high levels of the fear of being laughed at. In single item ratings higher levels of gelotophobia were associated with greater self-ascribed loneliness, lower perceived attractiveness, lower self-acceptance, and rather negative life expectancies. Findings are discussed in the light of current literature and with respect to potential implications for the school life of adolescents.</span></em></p> ER -