Humor Functions in Aphasia Group Therapy Within a Modified Intensive Comprehensive Program Model

EasyChair Preprint no. 6517

Abstract

Group aphasia therapy is a form of service delivery that can promote communication confidence and solidarity (Simmons-Mackie, 2001) and is an integral component of Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAP; Rose, et al., 2021). Elman (2007) proposed humor as a critical facet of group therapy that leads to positive outcomes between participating group members. Study results were derived from data collected from student-led group aphasia therapy sessions during a modified version of an ICAP where the minimum therapeutic dose of 30-hours was delivered over a 1-week accelerated timeline. A total of 220 instances of humor (Group A = 78; Group B = 142) occurred during group sessions. A constant comparative inductive method (CCM; Strauss & Corbin, 1990) was applied by two student researchers to code instances of humor and generate functions for each instance. Following CCM procedures, the six functions of humor from Sherratt and Simmons-Mackie were used to re-code the instances of humor to link these data to current literature. There was a strong level of correspondence between the two coding methods for each humor function. Improving likeability, building rapport, and bolstering togetherness were the most common humor functions used by PWA and student clinicians. Future studies can examine the role of humor in enhancing life participation, satisfaction in social situations, along with factors that contribute to group dynamics which may influence humor instance frequency.

Keyphrases: Group Therapy, humor, Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program

@Booklet{EasyChair:6517,
  author = {Victoria Scharp and Kris Brock and Melissa Mazzaglia},
  title = {Humor Functions in Aphasia Group Therapy Within a Modified Intensive Comprehensive Program Model},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint no. 6517},

  year = {EasyChair, 2021}}