Predictor variables of happiness and its connection with risk and protective factors for health.

Maite Garaigordobil

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01176

Abstract

Great thinkers, philosophers, scientists, and artists from History have often been concerned about one of the most important elements of life: happiness. The study had four goals: (1) To analyze possible differences in feelings of happiness as a function of sex and age; (2) To explore the relations of happiness with risk factors (psychopathological symptoms, behavior problems) and protective factors (self-concept-self-esteem, cooperative behavior, social skills) for health; (3) To identify predictor variables of happiness; and (4) To explore whether self-esteem mediates the relationship between happiness and psychopathological symptoms. The sample comprised 286 adolescents (14–16 years old). The study used a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional methodology. Seven assessment instruments were administered. The ANOVAs confirm that there are no sex differences, but happiness decreases as age increases. Pearson coefficients show that adolescents with more feelings of happiness had fewer psychopathological symptoms (somatization, obsession–compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychoticism…), fewer behavioral problems (school-academic, antisocial behavior, shyness-withdrawal, psychopathological, psychosomatic), high social adaptation, high self-concept/self-esteem, many cooperative behaviors, many appropriate social skills, and few negative social skills (inappropriate assertiveness, impulsiveness, jealousy-withdrawal). Multiple regression analysis identified five variables predicting happiness: high self-concept, few symptoms of depression, many cooperative behaviors, high self-esteem, and low psychoticism. Results showed a partial mediational effect of self-esteem in the relation between happiness and psychopathological symptoms. The discussion focuses on the importance of implementing programs to promote feelings of happiness, as well as protective factors for health (self-esteem, cooperation…).

Highlights

Great thinkers, philosophers, scientists, and artists from History have often been concerned about one of the most important elements of life: happiness
The results showed that the correlation of cooperation with the number of friends was low (r < 0.20), and the quality of friendships was a better indicator of cooperation than the number of friends, confirming a significant link between cooperation and happiness
In order to contrast the results obtained with the correlations observed, we explored whether the adolescents who had high scores in feelings of happiness displayed significant differences in the target variables of the study when comparing them with adolescents who obtained low or medium scores

Summary

Introduction

Philosophers, scientists, and artists from History have often been concerned about one of the most important elements of life: happiness. All human beings know and use the concept of happiness, there is no agreement about the definition of this construct. The concept of happiness focused on good luck, and the gods played an important role. In the Declaration of Independence of Jefferson in 1776, the pursuit of happiness was included as a human right. Happiness went from being related to luck and considered as being passive to being considered a more active construct. Happiness is understood as something that humans beings can control and achieve (Kesebir and Diener, 2008; Oishi, 2012)

Methods

Results

Conclusion