Humour as emotion regulation and resource in autism: a narrative review

> The effect of humour on well-being has been documented primarily in neurotypical individuals; however, emotion regulation poses substantial challenges in other populations, particularly among individuals on the Autism Spectrum (AS) (22, 23). Autism is primarily presented as a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties in social communication and social interaction and by restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviours, interests, or activities (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA] 2013). Individuals within these populations frequently exhibit elevated rates of anxiety and depression, which can have profound effects on both the individuals themselves and their families (24, 25). Emotion regulation difficulties are common (26–29), potentially limiting the effective use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as humour, to manage stress and reframe threatening situations (30). In light of these emotional vulnerabilities, identifying effective emotion regulation strategies is of critical importance. > > This narrative review seeks to synthesise current knowledge on the role of humour in autism, highlighting existing research gaps, and ultimately informing the development of effective interventions aimed at enhancing emotional well-being and mitigating the risk of anxiety and depression in this population. This narrative review is structured in five main sections. The first section focuses on neurotypical individuals, outlining Gross’s emotion regulation process model and examining how humour may function within this framework. The second section continues to address neurotypical populations by presenting empirical evidence on the regulatory mechanisms of humour, particularly its role as a cognitive reappraisal strategy, strategy linked to attentional deployment (distraction), and source of positive affect, and by comparing the effects of positive versus negative humour. In the third section, again in the neurotypical context, humour is conceptualised as a psychological trait and character strength, with a particular emphasis on its relationship with personality traits and emotional well-being. The fourth section shifts the focus to individuals with autism spectrum disorders, applying the extended process model to highlight the unique challenges of emotion regulation and exploring how humour is used, in different and selective ways, as a regulatory strategy in individuals with autism. The fifth section continues to focus on autism by examining humour as a character strength in populations on the AS, discussing related constructs such as gelotophobia, and reviewing intervention studies aimed at improving emotional well-being through humour within both conventional and neurodiversity paradigms.