A Factor-Analytic Study of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale with a Portuguese Sample

Abstract

Sense of humor has been recognized as an important adaptive mechanism as well as a great strength in dealing with adversity. Individual sense of humor is a multidimensional construct, intimately connected with peoples ’ well-being. The purpose of this paper is to validate the use of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS) with a Portuguese sample using the principal components factor analysis with Varimax rotation and a correlational analysis. Our findings support a five-factor model in understanding the dimensions of personal sense of humor. Humor has an important role in human lives and has long been recognized as an important mechanism used by individuals to manage difficult situations. Sense of humor is a construct that appears intimately connected to well-being; it is a complex phenomenon of a clearly individual nature, and has been studied from psychological, physiological and anthropological perspectives, but without a universal understanding of the underlying construct (Astedt-Kurki & Liukkonen, 1994; Hesbeen,