The Power of Humor in Strong African American Marriages: Laughing, Lifting, and Loving

Keywords

African-American, black, humor, marriage, positive psychology

Abstract

Increasingly, scholars are growing more familiar with humor as a contributor to well-being and positive psychological out-comes. Humor has long been used as a means of positive psychological coping, hope, and community building, particularly within the African diaspora. Yet, to date, research has largely ignored the familial and relational benefits of humor for African American families. The present study addresses this gap with he in-depth qualitative interviews of 46 exemplary African American, married couples (N = 92 individuals). Team-based qualitative analyses revealed that humor reportedly served as a strength in marriage, in parenting, and in religion. Narratives highlighting the roles of humor in the various dimensions of African American families are shared.

Original Publication Citation

Marks, L. D., Cannon, D. H., Skipper, A. D., Vassar, T. A., & Dollahite, D. C. (2025). The power of humor in strong African American marriages: Laughing, lifting, and loving. Marriage & Family Review, 61(8), 844–865. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2025.2535674

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2025

Publisher

Marriage & Family Review

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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