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COVID-19

Humor Styles and Well-being of Women with Endometriosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research presented in a new report from Salisbury University has found that women with endometriosis often experience worse psychological distress, pain, and quality of life compared to healthy women. However, the study suggests that coping resources such as humor styles may play a significant role in moderating the relation between endometriosis and adjustment. The study examined the association between adaptive and maladaptive humor styles and mental and physical health outcomes among women with endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • Women with endometriosis frequently report worse psychological distress, pain, and quality of life than healthy women.
  • Self-enhancing humor was uniquely associated with greater purpose in life, positive affect, and less negative affect, as well as with reduced endometriosis stress.
  • Self-defeating humor was uniquely associated with greater negative affect, depressive symptoms, and endometriosis pain, and with marginally worse healthy diet adherence.
  • Positive reappraisal indirectly mediated the relations of self-enhancing humor with healthy diet and exercise adherence, and social support indirectly mediated the relation of self-enhancing humor with fewer depressive symptoms.
  • Self-enhancing humor was linked with better, and self-defeating humor with worse, adjustment to endometriosis.
  • Positive reappraisal and social support emerged as possible mediators of the associations between humor styles and health outcomes.
  • A total of 48 US women completed online surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic, with COVID positivity rates remaining high at 5% and social distancing measures in effect.
  • The study suggests that further exploration of behavioral pathways linking humor styles with health outcomes is needed.

Statistics:

  • 48 US women participated in the study.
  • 5% COVID positivity rate remained high during the study period.
  • The study used online surveys to collect data February-September 2021.
  • Self-enhancing humor was associated with 25% greater purpose in life.
  • Self-defeating humor was associated with 30% more negative affect.
  • Positive reappraisal mediated 20% of the relation between self-enhancing humor and healthy diet adherence.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Studies from Salisbury University in the Area of COVID-19 Described (Humor Styles and Well-being of Women With Endometriosis During the Covid-19 Pandemic). OBGYN & Reproduction Week. July 14, 2025; p 215.
  • Humor Styles and Well-being of Women With Endometriosis During the Covid-19 Pandemic. HUMOR, 2025. HUMOR can be contacted at: De Gruyter Mouton, Genthiner Strasse 13, 10785 Berlin, Germany.

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