SELECTED ASPECTS OF HUMOROUS INTERACTION AMONG ELDERLY PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF CAREGIVERS IN COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH SUPPORT PROGRAMS OF THE ADULT DAY CARE TYPE.
Contributors: University of Maryland at Baltimore.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 377
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this research was to explore humorous interaction in the everyday lives of the elderly and staff in adult day care. The research question addressed the comic context of humorous interaction, functions served, intent of participants, and significance to participants asking: How are selected dimensions of humorous interaction experienced by the elderly participants and staff caregivers in adult day care?.

The study design was an exploratory case study using field methodology, observing humorous interaction within 15 everyday activities, interviewing 17 elders and 5 staff, and observing 8 sessions of a formal humor activity. The personal factors of 36 elders were described using the staff's assessment (levels of cognitive function, interaction, participation in activities, and outlook). The observational and interview data were analyzed for themes and patterns which described and explained the humorous interaction.

The characteristics of the humorous interaction, including humorous style, topics, and interactional context, were described and related to factors in the participants (personal factors) and factors in the context (situational factors). Attention was focused on the various types of elder humorists including the "Catalyst," "Light and Airy," "Stylized," and "Social Graces Humorists.".

The individual and social consequences occurred with great frequency, although they were short-lived. Consequences mirrored the purposes of the humorous interaction: humorous enjoyment, personal mastery, and enhancement of the interpersonal context.

The participants' perspectives supported the observational findings and their significance for the participants. The subjects were less clear on their deliberate participation in humorous interaction, although they spoke of their humor propensity.

The dimension of intent was further explored in the serendipitous activity A Laughing Matter. The majority of the humor generated observable responses. This formal humor activity appeared effective in allaying the anxiety of the elders and enhancing the interactional context.

Humorous interaction seemed to enhance the elasticity of both personal and interpersonal boundaries. This assisted participants to regulate distance to more optimal levels whether cognitively, affectively, behaviorally, or socially.

The implications for further research were presented. These included: (1) clarification and measurement of the dimensions of comic context, (2) replication of functions served, and (3) enhanced methodology in uncovering perspectives on humorous interaction.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-09, Section: B, page: 3708.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AT BALTIMORE, 1986.

School code: 0373.