Background: Humor, as a form of social risk-taking is observed more frequently among individuals with risky behaviors. It seems that self-control is related to risky behaviors and humor styles. Based on the recommendations of past studies, the present study was conducted to investigate whether self-controlmediates the relationship between risk perception and risk-taking with humor styles.
Methods: The statistical population included students of Bojnord University in the academic year of 2019. A sample of 380 students was selected by stratified random sampling. They completed the humor style questionnaire, self-control questionnaire, and domain-specific risk-taking scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 23 and the tests of correlation and path analysis.
Results: The results showed that adaptive humor styles were not significantly related to self-control and risk-taking; only the affiliative humor style had a negative correlation with risk perceptions. Maladaptive humor styles correlated significantly with self-control and risk-taking; only an aggressive humor style was related to positive risk perceptions. Path analysis showed that self-control affected the aggressive humor style (β = -.45, p < .0001) and self-defeating style (β = -.23, p < .0001), risk perception had a direct effect on aggressive humor style (β = .10, p < .012), and risk-taking affected the aggressive humor (β = -.19, p < .0001) and self-defeating (β = -.11, p < .016). Also, risk-taking through self-control affected aggressive humor style and self-defeating humor style significantly. The results of the goodness of fit in the modified model showed that the value of χ², GFI, AGFI, CFI, and RMSEA were.13, 1, .99, 1, and .0001, respectively and all these indices were at an acceptable level.
Conclusion: Individuals with high self-control take more risk and use less maladaptive humor styles. Individuals with weak ability cannot control their feelings, which results in maladaptive humor styles in interpersonal relationships.