Laughter in Adversity: Exploring the Meaning, Motivations, and Social Uses of Dark Humor Among Filipino College Students

This study explores how Filipino Generation Z college students in Metro Manila utilize dark humor as a coping mechanism for stress management, mental health resilience, and navigating social dynamics. Drawing on a descriptive phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews with nine students aged 21 to 23 years old revealed that dark humor operates as both an emotional outlet and a cultural expression rooted in Filipino values. Themes showed that its use is mindful and context-sensitive, shaped by pakikiramdam (emotional sensitivity) and pakikipagkapwa (relational empathy), allowing participants to reframe grief, ease emotional burdens, and build intimacy within trusted circles. These practices reflect pantawang pananaw, a worldview where laughter aids survival, critiques societal norms, and fosters harmony. Rather than serving as mere comic relief, dark humor emerged as an adaptive strategy for resilience, identity construction, and communal connection. The findings underscore its potential integration into culturally grounded mental health support and educational initiatives, and recommend further exploration across diverse demographic groups using culturally attuned humor-assessment tools.