The objective of this study was to know the factorial structure of the Relational Humor Inventory: Functions of Humor in Close Relationships (Koning, E. y Weiss, R. L., 2002) in Mexican University students. This inventory has 34 items which refer to the functional use of humor in couple relations. The translation and adaptation of the inventory was done and a pilot study was carried out at Psychology School at UNAM, with undergraduate students of different semesters.

The students were asked about their personal use of humor, an also about the use of humor with their recent significant couple. An alpha coefficient of .84 was obtained. Eleven components were obtained through factorial analysis. Five of these factors were constructed because of the coherence of the items. These factors are Factor 1 Positive humor with and eigen-value of 6.415 (which explains 18.87 % of the variance), Factor Instrumental Humor with an eigen-value of 4.047 (which explains 11.90 % of the variance), Factor 3 Instrumental Humor in couple relations with an eigen-value of 2. 158 (which explains 6.35 % of the variance), Factor 4 Negative Humor in the couple with an un eigen-value of 2.010 (which explains 5.91 % of the variance), Factor 5 Positive Humor in couple relations with an eigen-value of 1.645 (which explains 4.84 % of the variance).

The results obtained in this first study shows that the type of humor used by Mexican University students in their couple relations are. Positive and Instrumental Humor (individual), and Positive Humor in the couple. Results also show that Positive and Instrumental Humor predominate upon Negative Humor, which may indicate an adequate intimate relation and an efficient creative management in the solution of relational problems. Other studies need to be conducted in order to replicate this factorial structure in other groups.