Effectiveness of a Humor-Based Training for Reducing Employees' Distress

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that humor can impact interpersonal relationships in organizations and employee well-being. However, there is little evidence coming from intervention studies in organizational settings. In response, we developed a training following the principles of positive psychology that aims at improving employees' adaptive use of humor as a successful mechanism to deal with stress. In this study, we assess the effectiveness of such training and its impact on employee well-being. Results from this one-group intervention study in an emergency ambulance service (N = 58) revealed that the participants reported higher levels of cheerfulness (Z = -3.93; p < 0.001) and lower levels of seriousness (Z = -3.32; p < 0.001) after being exposed to the training. Indeed, the participants reported lower scores on psychological distress after the training (Z = -3.35; p < 0.001). The effect size of the training was medium (r = 0.31 to 0.36), suggesting that interventions to improve adaptive humor at work can be a useful resource to deal with workplace stress and foster employee well-being. These results may have interesting implications for designing and implementing positive interventions as well as for developing healthy organizations.

Automated summary

Humor can positively impact interpersonal relationships and employee well-being in organizations, but there is limited evidence from intervention studies in organizational settings. A training program aimed at enhancing employees' adaptive humor as a stress coping mechanism was developed and found to be effective in improving cheerfulness, reducing seriousness, and decreasing psychological distress in participants. The medium effect size suggests that interventions to improve adaptive humor at work could be beneficial in managing workplace stress and promoting employee well-being.