Funny but aversive: A large-scale survey of the emotional response to Covid-19 humor in the Italian population during the lockdown

We often see an upsurge of humor inspired by tragic circumstances: this happened also during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak. However, little is known about emotional response to tragedy-triggered humor, let alone Covid-19 humor. With a large-scale survey completed early stages Italy's lockdown, we studied appreciation (funniness and aversiveness) different formats shared on social media. Results analysis role demographic, personality, psychological distance factors with linear mixed models showed that lacks “signature” funniness, but displays mark aversiveness. Among demographics, age gender were key factors: increasing in women, was judged as more aversive. Individuals using cope uneasy circumstances funnier less Furthermore, perceived risk infection amplified aversiveness, while kilometrical from first Italian contagion hotspot raised amusement global terms. These findings expand our knowledge dark should raise awareness great variation impact need ponder where whom share laugh pandemic.