Clusters of Humor Expression and Related Factors among Junior High School Students in Taiwan

台灣地區國中生的幽默表現集群及相關因素探討

目的欲瞭解台灣青少年幽默表現方式所形成的集群及相關因素。利用2007年收集之全國性資料進行分析。先自台灣北、中、南、東四區各隨機抽出一國中，於七至九年級各隨機抽出一個班；被抽中班級的全體學生均接受問卷調查（1，639人）。根據樣本之幽默表現方式執行集群分析，再以多類別邏輯斯迴歸模式探討與此集群相關的因素。結果發現樣本可分為四個集群，根據各群特色命名為廣用各類幽默方式群（16.1%）、愛用貶低式幽默方式群（26.7%）、機智風趣不傷人群（22.4%）、正經嚴肅群（34.9%）。以正經嚴肅群為對照組進行多類別邏輯斯迴歸模式分析後發現，部分個人因素（年級、排行、學業表現、自覺壓力、過敏疾病）及家庭因素（母親教育程度、父母婚姻狀況、家庭收入）與幽默表現集群有關。本研究發現分屬於各種幽默表現集群的青少年，可能與不同的因素有關。建議提早於國中時期調查青少年的幽默表現方式，並協助其建立以正向方式表現幽默，而減少使用負向的幽默表現方式。此結果可作為後續設計教育方案或介入活動之參考，即可針對不同幽默表現集群的青少年講授適切的課程內容。

Little research has examined the aggregation of humor expression among adolescents. The purposes of this study were to understand the natural clusters of types of humor expression among youth in Taiwan and to discover any related background factors that may shape these aggregations of humor styles. A nationwide survey was conducted of 1，639 students in the seventh to ninth grades. Participating junior high schools were randomly selected in Taiwan. Cluster analysis was used to explore types of humor expression. Multinomial logistic regression modeling was used to examine factors related to types of humor expression. The sample was divided into four clusters based on humor expression and personality: (a) frequent use of various humor types (16.1%); (b) used of deprecating humor group (26.7%); (c) non-hurtful witty group (22.4%); and (d) serious or austere (or rarely use of humor) group (34.9%). Individual (e.g.， grade， birth order， academic performance， perceived stress and allergy-related problems) and family factors (e.g.， mother’s education， parent’s marital status and family income) were related to clusters of humor expression. Our study discovered that different aggregations of humor expressions exist among youth and that significant associations exist between different background factors and the natural clusters. Based on our study results， we recommend early contact with junior high school students to help establish positive ways that they can express their humor during this crucial period of time. Such insights may very well lead to educational programs or coursework that can enhance students’ understanding of the proper use of humor and its overall role in society.