Date of Award

12-2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Kelly McDonnell, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Eric Sauer, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Julie Davis, Ph.D.

Abstract

This dissertation evaluated the efficacy of Three Funny Things, a humor-based positive psychology intervention (PPI) designed to enhance subjective well-being (SWB) and reduce depressive symptoms. Subjective well-being was operationalized through self-reported happiness, measured by the Authentic Happiness Inventory (AHI), and depressive symptomatology, measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). A repeated-measures design was employed across three time points: baseline (Time 1), post-intervention (Time 2), and one-month follow-up (Time 3). Participants (N = 126) represented a racially diverse community sample, including individuals identifying as White (61%), Black or African American (18%), Hispanic or Latino/a (11%), Asian (6%), and multiracial or other identities (4%). Analyses included repeated-measures ANOVAs with Greenhouse- Geisser corrections and Levene’s tests for equality of variances, along with exploratory analyses assessing potential racial differences in intervention outcomes. Results indicated significant improvements in happiness and reductions in depressive symptoms from Time 1 to Time 2, with partial maintenance of gains at Time 3. Although overall effects were consistent across racial groups, exploratory trends suggested that participants from racially minoritized backgrounds began the study with lower baseline SWB but demonstrated comparable or greater relative gains following the intervention. Effect sizes were consistent with those reported for other empirically supported PPIs, underscoring humor’s potential as a culturally responsive, accessible pathway to psychological flourishing across diverse populations.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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