Open AccessThe relationship between self-isolation during lockdown and individuals' depressive symptoms: Humor as a moderator
Author(s) -
Ryota Tsukawaki,
Tomoya Imura
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
social behavior and personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.362
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1179-6391
pISSN - 0301-2212
DOI - 10.2224/sbp.10248
Subject(s) - psychology , moderation , isolation (microbiology) , association (psychology) , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , multilevel model , mental health , depressive symptoms , social isolation , affect (linguistics) , center for epidemiologic studies depression scale , covid-19 , developmental psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , cognition , medicine , psychotherapist , disease , macroeconomics , communication , pathology , machine learning , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , microbiology and biotechnology , economics , biology
The isolation that people of many nations have experienced during lockdown periods to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may adversely affect their mental health. In this study we examined whether humor moderates the relationship between extent of self-isolation and the depressive symptoms that people experience when locked down. Participants were 400 Japanese adults aged between 21 and 69 years, who completed the Humor Styles Questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in addition to responding to a question to establish the extent of their self-isolation. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis results indicate that affiliative humor moderated the relationship between the degree of self-isolation and depression, and attenuated their association. In contrast, aggressive humor strengthened their association. Our study findings suggest that affiliative humor served to safeguard people from suffering from depression induced by self-isolation during lockdown, whereas aggressive humor increased the likelihood of people becoming depressed during lockdown.