Presentation Schedule
Between Laughter and Limits: Understanding the Psychosocial Impact of Dark Humor Among Indian College-going Youth (102349)
Session Chair: Bill Calvey
Wednesday, 25 March 2026 14:50
Session: Session 4
Room: Room 701 (7F)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Dark humour, its growing popularity and use over social media occupies a complex and evolving space in the lives of young adults. This qualitative study investigates the role of dark humour in the lives of Indian college-going young adults, a population navigating the complex transitions of emerging adulthood marked by heightened academic, social, and existential challenges. While research has established the benefits of positive humour styles for well-being, this article focuses specifically on dark humour—characterized by its engagement with distressing topics and norm-violating contents. Drawing on focus group discussions, the study explores how young adults conceptualize, use, and experience dark humour and its role in their well-being. Data has been collected using focus-group discussion with 25 students from different years of college education and disciplines. Thematic analysis findings have been presented through three themes of conceptualisation of dark humour, navigating wellbeing and social ambiguity. Findings reveal that college students use dark humour as a tool to communicate and express their personal and social concerns helping them find solidarity in this phase of transitions, pressures and expectations. Despite these adaptive benefits, the risks of isolation, and emotional harm is also navigated and highlighted by them. The article advances theoretical understanding of dark humour’s unique psychosocial functions and impact in the context of emerging adulthood, well-being and college campus environment.
Authors:
Vidisha Rai, Indian Institute of Technology, India
Atasi Mohanty, Indian Institute of Technology, India
About the Presenter(s)
Ms Vidisha Rai is currently a PhD scholar at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule
Conference Comments & Feedback
Place a comment using your LinkedIn profileShare this Presentation
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress