Recently an increasing amount of research has focused on the role tat stressful life events play in the etiology, course, and maintenance of various physical and psychological disorders. Anecdotal reprots and clinical experience have long suggested that humor can be an effective and adaptive mechanism for coping with stress(Dixon, 1980). Even though increased attention has been paid recently to various aspects of humor, few studies have appeared in the literature that have directly investigated its stress-moderating effects. The problem addressed by this study was to assess a sense of humor as a moderator of the relationship between stressful life events and depression in a psychiatric population. The purpose of the study was to contribute to nurses` understanding about the use of humor as a adaptive coping mechanism between stressful life events and depression in psychiatric populations. The study participants was a convenience sample of 59 clients attending psychiatric Out-Pationts Clinics or psychiatric care units of two University hospitals in Seoul and one neuropsychiatric hospital in a near - by city. Data were collected from Sept. 14 to Oct. 10, 1992. The instruments used were the Situational Humor Response Questionnale developed by Martin & Lefcourt (1983), the Beck Depression Inventory modified by Lee, Eun-Young and the Social Reajustment Rating developed by Holmes & Rahe and modified by Lee, Pung-Suk. Data were analyzed by percentage, mean, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coeffcient, Stepwise multiple regression, t-Test. The results of this study can be summarized 1. There was no relationship between the one`s general characteristic and the depression. 2. There was difference in the depression scores between the high humor sense group and the low humor sense group(F=5.73, P<0.05). 3. There was difference in the depression scores between the high stressful life events group and the low stressful life events group(F=7.4, P<0.00) 4. There was difference in the depression scores between the tow groups : the depression scores of the high humor sense group were lower humor sense group under the high stressful life events(t=-2.5, P<0.05). The finding suggest that nurses need to find ways to enhance the of humor as adaptive coping mechanism between stressful life events and depression in psychiatric populations. Further research should be focus on the development of a culturally appropriate instrument to measure a sense of humor.