Can "gallows humor" help relieve stress?

Sometimes yes: Sometimes it can, as in the book "the house of god" by samuel shem. It was written about medical internships -- extremely stressful, sleep-deprived rites of passage. Used in moderation, gallows humor can help bonding in teams who are doing painful work -- like interns. Used excessively, it inadvertently separates us from those outside the culture in which the "gallows humor" is being used.

Sometimes - yes.: Hello. I have worked with the military for the last 33 years. Gallows or dark humor often allows people to tolerate the horrors of combat. To those looking in from the outside it may seem inexcusably crude & they may be quick to judge. However, sometimes allows people to survive and keep a bit of their sanity. Sometimes gallows humor is just a learned vulgar behavior. Take care.