“Keep joking”: appreciation and production of humor in aging

Humor is a universal human experience, enjoyed and expressed across all stages of life. While numerous studies have explored the developmental aspects of humor, relatively little research has focused on humor in older adults. Yet, humor remains a valuable psychological and social resource, aiding in stress management and fostering meaningful social connections. This study aims to explore individual differences in the appreciation and production of humor among older adults. A self-assessment questionnaire targeting the production and appreciation of six forms of humor (irony, puns, parody, dark humor, slapstick humor and satire) was administered to 37 young people (19–34 years old), 27 middle-aged people (40–59 years) and 37 elderly people (61–83 years old). Results showed that younger adults scored higher than older adults in both humor appreciation and production (all p < 0.001). Despite these age-related differences, the relative preferences for the six humor forms remained stable across groups. Correlational analyses conducted across the full sample revealed positive associations between humor abilities and verbal fluency measures. However, these associations were no longer significant within age groups, suggesting that they may primarily reflect age-related differences rather than direct relationships between fluency and humor abilities. These findings indicate that while humor engagement declines with age, the types of humor used and appreciated remain stable, emphasizing the relevance of humor for social interactions and potential interventions aimed at supporting wellbeing in older adults.