Self-esteem and humor style as mediators of the effects of shyness on loneliness among Chinese college students

In this study, the mediator effects of self-esteem and humor style on the relationship between shyness and loneliness in Chinese college students were investigated. The participants were 525 students, with age range of 19-23, who were attending two different Chinese colleges in Xi'an and Fujian. Data were collected by using the Cheek and Buss shyness scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, humor style questionnaire and emotional and social loneliness scale. Path analysis showed that self-esteem and humor style partially mediated the relationship between shyness and loneliness. The final model also revealed a significant path from shyness through self-enhancing humor and self-esteem to loneliness. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis found that male college students who are less likely to use self-enhancing humor are more likely to result in loneliness than their female counterparts. The results are discussed in terms of the conceptional context. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.