Humour and body image: Surrey researchers find link between two

Women who use positive humour to describe themselves have higher levels of ‘body appreciation’ than those who use self-deprecating humour, according to new research from the University of Surrey.

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Researchers also found that along with having a negative view of their body, those who used self-defeating humour were also more likely to have poor eating habits.

Dr Fabio Fasoli, Lecturer in Social Psychology at the University of Surrey, said:

“Having a negative body image can affect all areas of a person’s life and lead to depression and social anxiety. Often people don’t talk openly about how they view their bodies, but how a person speaks about themselves through humour can provide valuable insights into such feelings.”

In the first study of its kind, researchers from the University of Surrey explored the relationship between different styles of humour, body perception and eating behaviours in women. Findings from this study can be used by clinical psychologists and eating disorder therapists to better understand their patients and promote the use of positive humour to improve their body image.

Researchers surveyed 216 people, analysing their humour styles and perceptions of their bodies. The team from Surrey found that women who used self-defeating humour, putting themselves down in an aggressive fashion, were more likely to be highly critical of their bodies and possess a strong desire to be slimmer. Those who used such humour were also found to be emotional eaters, often making themselves feel worse about their bodies and putting them at risk of obesity and resulting illnesses.

In addition, it was identified that those who used self-enhancing humour, making yourself the target of the humour in a good-natured way, reported more body appreciation, and were associated with body kindness. Those who used this type of humour were less likely to be emotional eaters than their peers.

The Surrey team found that women who use both forms of humour reported a positive body image and had better eating habits than those who primarily engaged in self-defeating humour.

Jane Ogden, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Surrey, said:

“People using themselves as the butt of jokes is often a technique to get approval from others, but it can also signify that something more worrying is going on in that person’s life. This type of humour can indicate that a person is struggling with their body image and self-esteem, which can have a long-lasting effect on their life.”

The study was published in the Journal Humor

Notes to editors

Reference: ‘The relationship between humor and women’s body image concerns and eating behaviors’ Fabio Fasoli, Jane Ogden and Susie Johnson Journal HUMOR https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2022-0028
Dr Fabio Fasoli and Professor Jane Ogden are available for interview upon request.