Carlos Hernández

Objective: This study aimed to explore how humor functions as a coping mechanism that contributes to marital satisfaction among couples in Slovenia. Methods and Materials: A qualitative design was employed, relying on semi-structured interviews to capture couples’ lived experiences of humor in marriage. Twenty-four participants (12 couples) from Slovenia, married for at least three years, were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved, with each session lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software. Trustworthiness was enhanced through peer debriefing, member checking, and triangulation with field notes. Findings: Four major themes emerged from the data: (1) Humor as an Emotional Buffer, where couples described humor as a strategy for stress relief, emotional recovery, and conflict de-escalation; (2) Humor and Intimacy, highlighting the role of shared jokes, playful teasing, and affectionate humor in strengthening closeness and trust; (3) Humor as a Communication Strategy, with participants explaining how humor allowed them to soften criticism, indirectly express sensitive issues, and repair conflicts; and (4) Humor and Marital Resilience, where humor facilitated coping with external stressors, fostered perspective-taking, and sustained hope during challenges such as illness or financial strain. Couples reported that affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles were most beneficial, while aggressive humor could undermine satisfaction. Humor was also noted as increasingly expressed through digital interactions, including memes and messaging. Conclusion: The findings suggest that humor is a multidimensional coping resource in marriage, functioning simultaneously as an emotional, relational, communicative, and resilience-enhancing tool. While humor generally promotes marital satisfaction, its effects depend on style and context. These insights highlight the importance of constructive humor in maintaining healthy, satisfying, and enduring marital relationships.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the predictive roles of father involvement and mother–father coordination on child social competence in a sample of Mexican families. Methods: A correlational descriptive design was used to explore the relationships between father involvement, mother–father coordination, and social competence in children. The sample consisted of 432 parents from urban and semi-urban regions of Mexico, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Standardized instruments were used to assess each variable: the Inventory of Father Involvement (IFI), the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS), and the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-27. Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the relationships between each independent variable and the dependent variable, and multiple linear regression was performed to determine the combined and unique predictive effects of the two independent variables on child social competence. Findings: Pearson correlation coefficients revealed that father involvement (r = .43, p < .01) and mother–father coordination (r = .47, p < .01) were both significantly and positively associated with child social competence. The multiple linear regression model was statistically significant (F(2, 429) = 61.42, p < .01), with an R² of .34, indicating that 34% of the variance in social competence was explained by the predictors. Both father involvement (B = 0.06, β = .25, p < .01) and mother–father coordination (B = 0.08, β = .31, p < .01) made significant unique contributions to the model. Conclusion: The findings highlight the critical roles of both direct paternal engagement and coordinated coparenting in fostering children’s social competence. Interventions aiming to enhance children’s social skills should incorporate strategies that support father involvement and strengthen collaborative parenting dynamics.