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A Psychometric Evaluation on the Chinese Version of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale for Children (C-MSHSC)

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Abstract

This study examined the internal consistency and factor structure of a Chinese translation of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale for Children (C-MSHSC), similar to the conceptual framework developed for Chinese adults (Ho et al. North American Journal of Psychology 10:425–434, 2008). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the three theoretical humor dimensions: humor creation, coping with humor, and humor appreciation. Validity was assessed by correlations between the humor dimensions and measures of competency, self-esteem, personality, and behavioral characteristics. The results of most of the hypotheses were statistically significant and in the predicted directions. The C-MSHSC provides a useful measure for a variety of research and clinical applications in school-aged children.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Dr. Jacqueline S. Dowling (University of Massachusetts at Lowell) for her editorial assistance and helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions. We also express our gratitude to Mr. Edmund S. S. Chan (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) for collecting, coding, and entering the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

    Sammy K. Ho, Maria P. Y. Chik & Dennis W. K. Chan

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  1. Sammy K. Ho
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  2. Maria P. Y. Chik
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  3. Dennis W. K. Chan
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Correspondence to Sammy K. Ho.

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An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 22nd Annual Conference of the International Society for Humor Studies on 24–27 June, 2010, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

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Ho, S.K., Chik, M.P.Y. & Chan, D.W.K. A Psychometric Evaluation on the Chinese Version of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale for Children (C-MSHSC). Child Ind Res 5, 77–91 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-011-9114-6

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