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Article
Umair Akram
Sheffield Hallam University
Corresponding Author
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Previous research highlights the potential benefits of engaging with depressive internet memes for those experiencing symptoms of depression, a phenomenon that can be explained in part by the humorous interpretation of depressive stimuli and a perceived sense of social support through the normalisation of depressive symptoms. This study examined whether individuals experiencing significant depressive symptoms would differ from controls in their interpretation of internet memes related to depression, whilst incorporating the mediating role of humour style. N = 78 individuals with self-reported depressive symptoms (indicating ≥24 on the CES-D) and 67 controls (indicating ≤23) rated the emotional valance, humour, relatability, shareability, and mood improving potential of 32 depressive and control internet memes (depicting general neutral or positive social commentaries). Measures of depression and humour style were also completed. The perception of humour, relatability, shareability and mood improving potential of depressive, but not control, memes were all greater amongst individuals with symptoms of depression relative to controls. However, for ratings of humour, relatability and mood improving potential, these differences were mediated by the extent of ones self-defeating humour style. These outcomes further evidence benefits of engaging with depressive internet memes for those with depression.
Keywords
depression, depressive internet memes, humorous interpretation, relatability
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This is a preprint. It has not completed peer review.
Article
Umair Akram
Sheffield Hallam University
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 11 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Previous research highlights the potential benefits of engaging with depressive internet memes for those experiencing symptoms of depression, a phenomenon that can be explained in part by the humorous interpretation of depressive stimuli and a perceived sense of social support through the normalisation of depressive symptoms. This study examined whether individuals experiencing significant depressive symptoms would differ from controls in their interpretation of internet memes related to depression, whilst incorporating the mediating role of humour style. N = 78 individuals with self-reported depressive symptoms (indicating ≥24 on the CES-D) and 67 controls (indicating ≤23) rated the emotional valance, humour, relatability, shareability, and mood improving potential of 32 depressive and control internet memes (depicting general neutral or positive social commentaries). Measures of depression and humour style were also completed. The perception of humour, relatability, shareability and mood improving potential of depressive, but not control, memes were all greater amongst individuals with symptoms of depression relative to controls. However, for ratings of humour, relatability and mood improving potential, these differences were mediated by the extent of ones self-defeating humour style. These outcomes further evidence benefits of engaging with depressive internet memes for those with depression.
Figure 1
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