This study reveals the key to maintaining good relationships with your children over time

Humor, often considered a universal remedy, might also play a crucial role in parenting.

A pilot study conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) suggests that parents' use of humor significantly improves the quality of their relationship with their children.


The study, published in PLOS One, revealed that the majority of participants perceive humor as an effective parenting tool. Among 312 participants surveyed, aged 18 to 45, over 71% acknowledged that humor could be beneficial in the parent-child relationship. Those who grew up in an environment where humor was present expressed positive opinions about their relationship with their parents and the way they were raised.

Benjamin Levi, professor of pediatrics and humanities at Penn State College of Medicine and the study's lead author, explains that humor can teach cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and foster creative problem-solving as well as resilience. Inspired by his own family and professional experiences, he questioned the constructive use of humor in parenting.

Lucy Emery, the study's first author and currently a pediatric resident at Boston Children's Hospital, emphasizes that parent-child relationships, though more affectionate than professional ones, are often marked by stressful situations. She draws a parallel between the use of humor in the workplace, which helps reduce hierarchies and improve collaboration, and its use in the family sphere to defuse tensions and strengthen bonds.

The results of this study indicate a clear correlation between parents' use of humor and the perception adults have of their upbringing. Among participants who grew up with humorous parents, 50.5% reported having a good relationship with them, and 44.2% felt their parents fulfilled their educational role well. In contrast, only 2.9% of those whose parents did not use humor reported having a good relationship with them, and 3.6% felt their parents adequately assumed their parental role.

The study also highlights a transmission effect: humorous parents tend to replicate this educational tool with their own children. This preliminary research serves as a starting point for understanding how to use humor constructively as a parent and for identifying situations where it might be less appropriate.

The researchers are currently continuing their work by expanding their sample to a more diverse group of parents and collecting qualitative data based on their experiences with humor. Benjamin Levi hopes that this approach will not only reduce tensions but also develop resilience and cognitive and emotional flexibility in both parents and children.