Humor and field energy in older adults

Abstract

The purpose .of this study was to gain an understanding of humor from the unique perspective of the Science of Unitary Human Beings as described by Martha Rogers. The primary research questions were: (1) What is the relationship between humor and field energy? and, (2) What is the relationship of humor and field energy in institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults 65 years of age or older? It was proposed that there was a relationship between humor and field energy and that institutionalized older adults who exhibited a lower field energy score on the Index of Field Energy (IFE) (Gueldner, 1993; Gueldner & Ference, 1988) would also exhibit a low score on the Situational Humor Response Questionnaire (SHRQ) (Lefcourt & Martin, 1986), i. e., there would be mutual patterning of humor and field energy. Also, it was proposed that both humor and field energy would be significantly lower in the institutionalized group. This study used a descriptive correlational design. The sample (N=80) consisted of of individuals who were 65 years of age or older. The individuals in the sample were either residents of various nursing homes (n=40) or resided independently and attended activities at one of several different regional senior centers (,n=40). The sample included individuals who: (1) were cognitively intact as demonstrated by the Pfeiffer (1975) Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire; (2) were able to hear and respond to normal conversation; (3) had the visual capacity to read the questionnaires; (4) had the ability to read, write, and speak English; (5) were male and female of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds; and (6) volunteered to participate in this study by signing an informed consent. Subjects completed 3 measurement tools in addition to the Pfeiffer Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire: (1) a General Information Questionnaire for the collection of socio-demographic information, (2) the Index of Field Energy to assess field energy; and (3) the Situational Humor Response Questionnaire, which was revised by the investigator for the population under study, to ascertain the humorousness of an individual. Data were analyzed to determine proposed relationships between humor and field energy. Humor and field energy scores for the entire sample were significantly correlated (p_ = .000), as well as for institutionalized elders (p_ = .000) and for non-institutionalized elders (i;?. = .027). Additionally, when potential influences were controlled, the hypothesized relationship between humor and field energy (n = .000) was further supported regardless of group membership. Field energy was significantly lower (F = 16.93; ll = .000) in the institutionalized older adults than in the non-institutionalized older adults. Humor did not differ significantly between institutionalized and non-institutionalized subjects. Cronbach reliabilities of both the SHRQ (a = .805) and the !FE (a = .865) were confirmed in this sample of older adults.