Gerotranscendence and humor styles: the mediating role of generativity and wisdom

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to investigate whether generativity and wisdom played a mediating role in the relationships between gerotranscendence and humor styles among people in late adulthood. The study included 399 participants aged 60–85 years. The following measures were used: Gerotranscendence Scale Type 2 (GST2), Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS), and the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS). The analyses revealed that generativity and wisdom, taken together, were mediators in the relationship between gerotranscendence and the four styles of humor in late adulthood. The results of the survey show that gerotranscendence is a factor that protects individuals against the use of aggressive humor, at the same time predisposing them to using humor that expresses self-acceptance and strengthens interpersonal relations. An interesting result was obtained for self-defeating humor. It was shown that gerotranscendence, by increasing generativity and wisdom, increases the tendency to poke fun at oneself and to talk about one’s own weaknesses or mistakes. This tendency, as suggested by the specific character of the relationships observed, does not have to be non-adaptive. Our results demonstrate that the processes related to the shaping of humor among people in late adulthood have a unique nature.

Religious meaning system and sense of self-dignity in the second half of life: The mediating role of wisdom.

“…Empirical studies indicate that the level of gerotranscendence correlates positively with various indicators of well-being in late adulthood (Brudek, Płudowska, et al, 2021;Wortman & Lewis, 2021). Based on the views of Tornstam (2005Tornstam ( , 2011, it can be assumed that gerotranscending also affects the sense of self-dignity of people 50+.…”

“…The above-mentioned changes build and strengthen in adults 50+ a sense of self-dignity, which is based on a positive attitude toward oneself, self-esteem and uniqueness, and treating oneself with respect and love (Brudek & Steuden, 2017a). Also, the attainment of wisdom can be understood as a manifestation of gerotranscendent maturity, which is achieved through the integration of changes observed at each level of gerotranscendence (Brudek, Płudowska, et al, 2021; Takahashi, 2019).…”

“…These changes are visible on three levels: cosmic, self, and social. In the area of psychosocial functioning of people in the second half of life, they can lead to an increase in religiosity (Abreu et al, 2021), sense of self-dignity (Brudek & Steuden, 2017b; Wildhack, 2019) and wisdom (Brudek, Krok, & Steuden, 2021; Brudek, Płudowska, et al, 2021; Takahashi, 2019). The changes that show up on the cosmic level of gerotranscendence include the redefinition of time, life and death, and the opening of the individual to the spiritual aspect of reality.…”

Predictors of the existential dimension of gerotranscendence in women. Intergenerational differences

“…It has been noticed, inter alia, that some forms of being religious, such as "superficial" religiosity, may hinder development towards gerotranscendence. Studies carried out in Poland on the relationship between gerotranscendence and styles of sense of humour show that gerotranscendence is a factor that protects individuals against the use of aggressive humour, while predisposing them to use of humour that expresses self-acceptance and strengthens interpersonal relations (Brudek et al, 2021).…”