Original Article

CME Article: Comparison of Sense of Humor and Burnout in Surgeons and Internal Medicine Physicians

Authors: Maya Paran, MD, Arie Sover, PhD, Mickey Dudkiewicz, MD, Ohad Hochman, MD, Galina Goltsman, MD, Yaakov Chen, MD, Karina Zilber, MD, Offer Merin, MD, David Aranovich, MD, Boris Kessel, MD

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate humor styles in surgeons and internists and investigate the association between humor and burnout.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of physicians in surgical and medicine departments was conducted, assessing sense of humor and burnout using the Humor Styles Questionnaire and the Emotional Exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel.

Results: For 131 surgeons and 72 internists, no differences in humor styles were found. A sense of personal accomplishment was more common among surgeons (P = 0.03) and rates of burnout were lower for surgeons (P = 0.02). Physicians with a higher-than-average score in affiliative and self-enhancing humor were less likely to suffer from burnout (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively).

Conclusions: Surgeons and internists have similar styles of humor. Surgeons suffer less from burnout. Affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles are associated with reduced burnout.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Ruch W. The Sense of Humor: Explorations of a Personality Characteristic. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton; 1998.
 
2. Sover A, Martin RA, Puhlik-Doris P, et al. Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: development of the Humor Styles Questionnaire. J Res Pers 2003;37:48–75.
 
3. Lehman KM, Burk KL, Martin R, et al. A reformulation of the moderating effects of productive humor. Int J Humor Res 2001;14:131–16.
 
4. Flynn D. Personal and social influences on the use of humour in the interactions of student nurses in UK clinical settings. Br J Nurs 2020;29:303–307.
 
5. Cann A, Norman MA, Welbourne JL, et al. Attachment styles, conflict styles and humour styles: interrelationships and associations with relationship satisfaction. Eur J Pers 2008;22:131–146.
 
6. Sakurada K, Konta T, Watanabe M, et al. Associations of frequency of laughter with risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease incidence in a general population: findings from the Yamagata study. J Epidemiol 2020; 30:188–193.
 
7. Ikeda S, Ikeda A, Yamagishi K, et al. Longitudinal trends in blood pressure associated with the frequency of laughter: the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS), a longitudinal study of the Japanese general population. J Epidemiol 2021;31:125–131.
 
8. Romundstad S, Svebak S, Holen A, et al. A 15-year follow-up study of sense of humor and causes of mortality: the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study. Psychosom Med 2016;78:345–353.
 
9. Tamada Y, Takeuchi K, Yamaguchi C, et al. Does laughter predict onset of functional disability and mortality among older Japanese adults? The JAGES Prospective Cohort Study. J Epidemiol 2021;31:301–307.
 
10. Martin RA, Puhlik-Doris P, Larsen G, et al. Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: development of the Humor Styles Questionnaire. J Res Pers 2003;37:48–75.
 
11. Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach Burnout Inventory: Manual, 3rd ed. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1996.
 
12. Schaufeli WB, Bakker AB, Hoogduin K, et al. On the clinical validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the burnout measure. Psychol Health 2001; 16:565–582.
 
13. Steiner-Hofbauer V, Schrank B, Holzinger A. What is a good doctor? Wien Med Wochenschr 2018;168:398–405.
 
14. Dozois DJ, Martin RA, Bieling PJ. Early maladaptive schemas and adaptive/ maladaptive styles of humor. Cogn Ther Res 2009;33:585–596.
 
15. Mahoney ST, Strassle PD, Schroen AT, et al. Survey of the US surgeon workforce: practice characteristics, job satisfaction, and reasons for leaving surgery. J Am Coll Surg 2020;230:283–293.
 
16. Harendza S, Pyra M. Just fun or a prejudice? Physician stereotypes in common jokes and their attribution to medical specialties by undergraduate medical students. BMC Med Educ 2017;17:128.
 
17. Rotenstein LS, Torre M, Ramos MA, et al. Prevalence of burnout among physicians: a systematic review. JAMA 2018;18;320:1131–1150.
 
18. Cyr S, Marcil MJ, Marin MF, et al. Factors associated with burnout, post-traumatic stress and anxio-depressive symptoms in healthcare workers 3 months into the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study. Front Psychiatry 2021;12:668278.
 
19. Van den Broeck A, Vander Elst T, Dikkers J, et al. This is funny: on the beneficial role of self-enhancing and affiliative humour in job design. Psicothema 2012;24:87–93.
 
20. Wellenzohn S, Proyer RT, Ruch W. Who benefits from humor-based positive psychology interventions? The moderating effects of personality traits and sense of humor. Front Psychol 2018;9:821.
 
21. Mesmer-Magnus J, Glew DJ, Viswesvaran C. A meta-analysis of positive humor in the workplace. J Manag Psychol 2012(27);155–190.
 
22. Castro B, Eshleman J, Shearer R. Using humor to reduce stress and improve relationships. Semin Nurse Manag 1999;7:90–922.