Higher Happiness Research Articles

Job satisfaction among physicians and nurses involved in the management of multiple sclerosis: the role of happiness and meaning at work

ObjectiveHealth professionals caring for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are faced with increasingly complex working conditions that can undermine their job satisfaction and the quality of their healthcare services. The aim of this study was to delve into health professionals’ job satisfaction by assessing the predictive role of happiness and meaning at work. Specifically, it was hypothesized that job meaning would moderate the relationship between job happiness and satisfaction.MethodsThe study hypothesis was tested among 108 healthcare professionals (53 physicians and 55 nurses) working in eight MS centers in Italy. Participants were administered the Eudaimonic and Hedonic Happiness Investigation and the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the moderating role of job meaning between job happiness and satisfaction.ResultsA significant interaction effect of job happiness and meaning on job satisfaction was identified for both physicians and nurses. When work was attributed low meaning, participants experiencing high job happiness were more satisfied with their work than those reporting low happiness; by contrast, when work was perceived as highly meaningful, participants’ levels of job happiness did not significantly contribute to job satisfaction.ConclusionsFocusing on the interplay between job happiness and meaning, findings bring forward practical suggestions for the preservation and promotion of job satisfaction among health professionals working with MS patients. Particularly, they suggest the need to strengthen those job-related aspects that may enhance job meaning, thus providing health professionals with significant reasons to persevere in their work in the face of daily challenges.

The relational and mental health payoffs of staying gritty during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-cultural study in the Philippines and the United States

This study examined how the triarchic model of grit (i.e., perseverance of effort, consistency of interests, and adaptability to situations) is related to cultivation of genuine happiness, loneliness, and COVID-19 anxiety in American ( n = 643) and Filipino ( n = 546) undergraduate students. It also explored whether grit had indirect effects on such social and well-being outcomes via relatedness needs satisfaction and meaning in life. Results of structural equation modeling demonstrated that whereas all grit dimensions were linked to increased relatedness needs satisfaction and meaning in life in the United States, only consistency and adaptability were associated with such constructs in the Philippines. Meaning in life was related to increased cultivation of happiness and reduced loneliness in both societies. Relatedness needs satisfaction was associated with higher happiness as well as decreased COVID-19 anxiety and loneliness in the United States and the Philippines. Finally, evidence supported indirect effects of of selected grit’s dimensions on mental health outcomes via relatedness needs satisfaction and meaning in life in both settings. This research complements existing literature on the relational and psychological benefits of staying gritty in different societies.

The Relative Contribution of Mindfulness and Gratitude in Predicting Happiness among University Students

The present study aims at identifying the separate and interactive contribution of gratitude and mindfulness in predicting happiness; examining the relationship between these variables; identifying differences between students with high happiness and students with low happiness in gratitude and mindfulness; and identifying the levels of gratitude, mindfulness, and happiness among the students of Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University. The research sample consisted of 447 female students aged 18-25 years. The research instruments included the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, as well as the Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Test-Short form. The study found out that gratitude and mindfulness had a significant contribution in predicting happiness among university students (31% and 41.5%, respectively). The interaction between the total scores of mindfulness and gratitude contributed 51.5% of the variance in happiness among university students. The interaction between mindfulness, sense of abundance, and simple appreciation contributed 54.4% of the variance in happiness among university students. The study found a positive correlation between mindfulness, gratitude (sense of abundance, simple appreciation, appreciation of others), and happiness. Additionally, it was found that students at Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University had moderate levels of mindfulness and moderate to high levels of gratitude and happiness. The sense of abundance domain was moderate, the simple appreciation domain was high, and the appreciation of others domain was moderate. Mindfulness, gratitude, sense of abundance, simple appreciation, and appreciation of others increased among the students with high happiness. Received: 8 March 2021 / Accepted: 22 June 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021

Time map and predictors of on-spot emotional responses of Chinese people during COVID-19 outbreak: From January 27 to February 20, 2020

• Chinese people reported mild on-spot positive and negative emotions during COVID-19 outbreak. • Negative emotions declined and happy emotion increased in a curvilinear style. • Risk predictors were female, elder age, city with more confirmed cases, patients or medical staff, and higher risk perception. • Protective predictors were unmarried, high-school or college education, and later investigating dates. Background: The impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people's mental health has been gradually revealed. Emotional responses under this pandemic have been a focus. This study aimed to observe the time map and predictors of transient daily emotions (on-spot emotional responses) during the COVID-19 outbreak in Chinese people. Methods : A total of 133,027 Chinese people from all cities and areas of China took part in this 25-day online investigation from January 27 to February 20, 2020. Hierarchical regression was carried out. Results : Chinese people reported mild positive and negative emotions during COVID-19, and the trend was that negative emotions declined and happy emotion increased in a curvilinear style. Females reported stronger on-spot negative emotions. Young and unmarried people, and individuals with lower risk perception reported lower negative emotions and higher happiness, while people with postgraduate or higher education, medical staff and patients, and individuals coming from areas with more confirmed cases, experienced stronger positive and negative emotions. In the regression model, risk predictors of negative emotions were being female, being older in age, having postgraduate or higher education, living in a city with more confirmed cases, being a patient or medical staff, and having higher risk perception, while protective predictors of negative emotions were being unmarried, having high-school or college education, and later investigating date. Notably, been married was negative predictor of happiness. Conclusions : This large sample, 25-day successive online investigation is among the first to reveal the time map of on-spot emotions in Chinese people under the COVID-19 pandemic. The risk and protective predictors of on-spot negative emotions help to recognize vulnerable people under pandemic conditions and further develop more targeted early interventions for future crises.

Work-Family Balance among Dual-Earner Couples in South Korea: A Latent Profile Analysis.

The declining birth rate in South Korea is concerning and linked to stress in the work–family balance, which is known to affect family planning. Therefore, providing proper support to double-earner couples might help improve the fertility rate. Work–family balance refers to the ability of individuals to perform their roles at work and home with equal involvement. This study identifies two aspects: gains and strains. Latent profile analysis is employed to create a typology that can account for the diversity in work–family balance. This approach is person-centered rather than variable-centered, and it identifies clusters of individuals that differ qualitatively, thereby examining the strains and gains experienced by double-earner couples. We classify the types of work–family balance and identify the attributes of each profile. The findings showed that men were more likely to belong to the high-gain class when they had a temporary position, multiple children, good health, low depression, higher life satisfaction levels, and strong social support. Women were more likely to belong to the high-gain class when they experienced high happiness levels and strong social support. Based on these profiles, we provide recommendations to enhance work–family balance, thereby contributing to strategies to overcome low birth rates.

G-Donic Happiness: An Alternative to Hedonic and Eudemonic Happiness for Sustainable Consumption

This paper provides a spiritual perspective on happiness referred to as the G-donic approach to happiness which is fundamentally different from the hedonic and eudemonic approaches. The G-donic approach identifies the importance of the spiritual self and argues that it embodies the technology that converts physical resources into happiness. We argue that with G-donic preferences, it is possible to achieve a higher level of happiness with moderate consumption. The G-donic approach encourages living a virtuous life by fulfilling the biological, social, emotional, intellectual, moral, and spiritual needs in a balanced manner. It urges spiritual people to go beyond phenomenal reality to perceive transcendental reality in pursuit of authentic happiness. We use a multi-dimensional human nature model to highlight the relevance and importance of this approach, and modify standard utility models to show how it might result in higher happiness with lower consumption and compare and contrast it with outcomes under hedonic and eudemonic approaches to happiness. The G-donic approach contends that resources and spirituality are substitutes, as well as complements and that a reasonable approach to happiness should seek an optimal mix of both. Unlike popular convention, this deviation from hedonic pleasure due to lower consumption does not result in lower happiness. In fact, we show that, theoretically, it results in an overall increase in happiness as any loss in hedonic is compensated by greater eudemonic and G-donic rewards which increases utility.

Distressed but happy: health workers and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, many people rose to the occasion by engaging in volunteerism and health work. We conducted two nationwide surveys in the United States (n = 2931) and China (n = 2793) assessing volunteers’ and health workers’ levels of mental distress and happiness. In spite of data being collected at different phases of the COVID-19 outbreak and across two different cultures, the results converged. Volunteers and health workers reported higher mental distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, somatization) than the comparison group. However, volunteers and health workers also reported more happiness than the comparison group. More importantly, in a follow-up in China (n = 1914) one month later, health workers still reported heightened happiness but were no longer more distressed than the comparison group. The changes in distress were partially mediated by happiness at the first time point, pointing to the potential role of happiness in coping with distress. In sum, the emotional landscape of volunteers and health workers was complicated—they experienced higher distress but also higher happiness than comparison groups. Future research would do well to include longer follow-up periods to examine how experiencing happiness during highly stressful situations predicts mental health over time.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40167-021-00100-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Elderly Muslim Wellbeing: Family Support, Participation in Religious Activities, and Happiness

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of family support and participation in religious activities on the happiness of elderly muslims. Background: An increase in the number of older age people should be balanced with the increased quality of their life. The quality of life is influenced by internal factors such as self-quality, as well as external factors such as family support and religious activities. Objective: The objective of this research was to identify differences in the level of happiness of elderly muslims based on several factors: Work, health, salary, Islamic study, and marriage. Methods: Three hundred and ten elderly muslims (133 male, 177 female) participated in this study. Respondents were selected by simple random sampling of the elderly muslim population in seven districts in Central Java province, Indonesia. Results: The results showed 1) there was a correlation between family support and participation in religious activities and the happiness of elderly Muslims, 2) a healthy elderly person has a higher level of happiness than a sick elderly person; elderly who partake in Islamic studies one to two times a week have higher happiness than the elderly who do not; the retired elderly have the highest happiness compared to the elderly who still work and the elderly who do not (the lowest level of happiness), and there was no difference in the level of happiness in terms of salary and marriage. Conclusion: Family support and participation in religious activities are the main predictors of subjective well-being in the muslim elderly. In addition, there are other predictors such as health and participation in Islamic studies.

Influence of Having Breakfast on Happiness and Attention-Concentration among High School Students

Background: Healthful nutrition has a positive connection with both physical and mental health. Breakfast is often considered as the most important meal of the day. Despite the benefits, skipping the morning meal is highly prevalent among adolescents. Healthy eating has an effect on happiness and concentration but a firm connection has not been established. Breakfast skipping can be a factor and a gap in the literature exists in this regard. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between eating breakfast, happiness and attention concentration among high school students.
 Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a convenient sampling strategy was used to select the students from an International school located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 29-item Oxford Happiness Questionnaire along with demographic variables was employed as research instrument. Chi-square test, student t-test and ANOVA were used to compare different categorical variables.
 Results: The overall Happiness mean score was 3.621 ± 0.6637. Students who were regular at having breakfast every day had higher happiness mean scores. Overall, 40% of the participants reported to have decreased concentration/attentiveness during the first 4 lectures at school. Majority (55%) of the breakfast skippers were distracted in the lessons. A regular breakfast eating habit was found to be significantly associated with happiness (p=0.04) and concentration during lectures (p=0.04) respectively. Majority of the students had insufficient physical activity (72%) and had experienced stress (88%) in the last six months respectively. The prevalence of being overweight/ obese among breakfast skippers was higher (39%) than was in breakfast consumers (26%).
 Conclusion: Eating breakfast was associated with higher happiness scores and better concentration among high school students. An alarmingly high prevalence of stress among students is a cause of concern. Schools should start breakfast eating programs and promote physical activity to reduce stress. Future studies are needed to explore the factors associated with stress.

Depression and anxiety among older people in central africa: Epidemca population-based study

IntroductionThe burden of depression and anxiety is poorly documented in Central African populations.ObjectivesTo present the epidemiology of depressive and anxiety disorders among older people in two Central African countries.MethodsA cross-sectional population-based study was carried out in Republic of Congo (ROC) and Central African Republic (CAR) between 2011 - 2012 among people aged ≥ 65 years (EPIDEMCA study). Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire and participants underwent a brief physical examination. Depression and anxiety symptoms were ascertained using a community version of the Geriatric Mental State (GMS-B3). Probable cases were defined as having a GMS-AGECAT score ≥ 3. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between potential risk factors collected and presence of at least one of both symptoms.ResultsOverall 2002 participants were included in the EPIDEMCA study. Median age of the participants was 72 years [interquartile range: 68 – 78 years] and 61.8% were females. Prevalence was 38.1% (95% Confidence Interval: 35.9% - 40.2%) for depression, 7.7% (95% CI: 6.5% - 8.9%) for anxiety. In total 40.1% had least one of both symptoms. In multivariable models, the following factors were associated with the presence of at least one of both symptoms: female sex, residence area, frailty, cognitive disorders, a high happiness score (protective) and hypertension (adjusted Odds Ratios from 1.3 to 1.7; p<0.01).ConclusionsIn light of the high prevalence of both psychiatric symptoms among Central African older people, evidence on their epidemiology is important for better management and policy planning.

Persepsi Kebahagiaan Pada Masyarakat Banjar di Desa Gandaraya Kecamatan Anjir Pasar Kabupaten Barito Kuala

Happiness is a feeling that can be experienced by everyone, but the way to get happiness varies depending on how the person perceives it. The purpose of this research is to find out how the level and perception of happiness in the Banjar community. This type of research uses a mixed method with 55 people for a quantitative approach and 12 people for a qualitative approach taken from a sample of 55 people who have high levels of happiness. Data collection techniques used were, questionnaire, observation and interview. The results of this study can be concluded that the level of happiness of adolescents with high happiness categories is 35% and moderate 65%, adults are high happiness categories 55% and moderate 45%, and elderly happiness categories are high 46.7% and moderate 53.3%. Perceptions of happiness in adolescents are positive emotions, gratitude, family, achievement, peers, and social life. Adults are positive emotions, be patient and grateful, family, marriage, physical health, money, work, social life, and religiosity. While the elderly are positive emotions, gratitude, age, money, family, physical health, religion, social life.

Determinant of Macro-Economics: Does Income Inequality Influence Happiness? Evidence From Indonesia

This research aims to see does income inequality determines the happiness of Indonesian. This is important because there is a unique condition where Indonesia to be one of the developing nations which have a complexity of the income inequality issue, but it still has a high happiness index rate. This research uses cross-sectional data consisting of multiple indicators of all the variables from 34 provinces of Indonesia such as inflation, unemployment, and government investment as the macroeconomic factors, which have a direct impact on income inequality as well as happiness index, and this research uses path analysis model.The result delineates that although macro economics variables and income inequality have negative correlation toward happiness of Indonesian, it it not fully effected on it because most happiness of Indonesians are coming from another aspect such as socio-culture and religiosity

A Study of Happiness-inducing Factors in Nursing and Midwifery Students at the Islamic Azad University of Jahrom

Introduction: In psychology, happiness is defined as a positive emotion which lasts longer than atemporary good feeling; it is a steady condition among one’s positive emotions and understanding oflife. Happiness is beneficial to the whole society, but the effects of happiness on university students,as the new blood and future makers of nations, have been of greater interest to researchers. Thepresent study aims to explore the factors that induce happiness in nursing and midwifery students.
 Methods: The present study is a descriptive-comparative work of research conducted in 2017 on 200nursing and midwifery students at the Islamic Azad University of Jahrom in the south of Iran. Thesubjects were selected based on the census sampling method. To determine the degree of happinessin the subjects, the researchers used the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire developed by Argyle et al.in 1979. The questionnaire consists of 29 multiple-choice items scored on the Likert scale between0 and 3. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire have been tested and confirmed in severalstudies. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS v. 15.
 Findings: Of the 200 students studied,81% (171) were female and 65.4% (138) were single. The mean happiness score of the subjects wasfound to be 40.1±9.1. On the happiness scale, the students’ happiness level was medium. 21.9% ofthe students had low happiness levels (a score of 0 to 28), 71.5% had acceptable happiness levels (ascore of 29 to 57), and 6.6% had high happiness levels (a score of 58 to 87). An analysis of the datashowed that there was not a significant relationship between the subjects’ levels of happiness and anyof their demographic characteristics except their term of study (p=0.05).
 Conclusion: The findingsof the present study show that the degree of happiness among nursing and midwifery universitystudents is medium. Since nursing and midwifery university students are potential labor force in thehealthcare systems of societies, it is essential that they maintain acceptable levels of happiness whichis a criterion of psychological health. Accordingly, it is recommended that organized measures betaken to improve the psychological health of students and keep it at satisfactory levels throughoutthe duration of their education.
 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(1) 2021 p.33-38

Association of happiness with morningness - eveningness preference, sleep-related variables and academic performance in university students

ABSTRACT Happiness, defined as thecognitive and emotional evaluations of individual’s life as a whole, not only gives individuals positive emotions, but also has positive returns in many areas related to the individual’s life. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the association of happiness with morningness – eveningness preference, sleep-related variables and academic performance in university students. 547 university students (80.4% female, 19.6% male) aged between 19 and 25 years participated in the study. Demographic Questionnaire, CSM and OHQ-SF were used as data collection instruments. Happiness correlated negatively with MSFsc and positively with both M-E Preference and CGPA. Meanwhile, M-E Preference and CGPA were associative factors of Happiness. Univariate two-way ANCOVA provided a significant two-way interaction. The pairwise comparisons indicated that M-type Achievers had higher happiness scores compared to M-type Underachievers. Similarly, E-type Achievers had higher happiness scores compared to E-type Underachievers. Meanwhile, Happiness scores of both Achievers and Underachievers significantly differed in M-E Preference categories. Happiness scores of Achiever M-types differed significantly from Achiever N-types in favour of M-types. Underachiever N-types had higher happiness scores compared to Underachiever E-types. These results indicate that students’ happiness scores increase depending on the increase in student’s academic performance and the student’s being an earlier chronotype.

The "Efficiency" Effect of Conceptual Referents on the Generation of Happiness: A Cross-National Analysis

This paper analyses how different definitions of happiness affect the individual assessment of subjective wellbeing. Bearing in mind the production theory, we study the impact of definitions of happiness on how efficiently a set of determinants are used and converted into happiness. From a theoretical point of view, we discuss the role of the Conceptual Referent Theory within the affective-cognitive process of personal evaluation of happiness. We use data from the Understanding High Happiness in Latin America survey (2018), which includes a sample of people from Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and the USA, to investigate how happiness conceptual referents influence personal assessment using Stochastic Frontier Analysis. This method permits to assess the impact of different definitions of happiness on how a set of standard drivers like income and social relations are used and converted into perceived happiness. To this end, conceptual referents for happiness are treated as (in)efficiency factors. This study shows that the concept of happiness shapes how individuals value the same inputs. “Stoicism”, “virtue” and “enjoyment” emerge as the most efficient referents. Also, we observe that cross-country differences in the level of perceived happiness are associated with differences in the prevalence of conceptual referents. In the USA, where less efficient definitions prevail, people report lower levels of happiness.

A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY ON HAPPINESS IN TEENAGERS STAYING AT SOS KINDERDORF ORPHANAGE (CHILDREN VILLAGE) LEMBANG, INDONESIA

This study aims to get a picture of happiness in adolescents who live in the SOS Kinderdorf orphanage (children village) Lembang. The SOS Kinderdorf Lembang orphanage has a different system, where the children live in a house instead of a dormitory. The aspects of happiness studied consisted of six aspects, namely clarity, healthy living, optimism, positive relationships, strength, gratitude. Collecting data in this study using a questionnaire and interviews that are derived from aspects of happiness based on Sharp's theory. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that most of the adolescents who live in the SOS Kinderdorf Lembang orphanage have high happiness (60.7%) and the aspect that most supports this happiness is Clarity (67.9%). The happiness of adolescents living in Kinderdorf is also supported by the existing nurturing system, such as they get adequate skills and education, a comfortable Kinderdorf environment, adequate facilities and mothers and administrators who are kind to them. Article visualizations:

Relationship between cultural values and well-being: analysis from some East Asian countries

ABSTRACT This paper is an empirical analysis of how culture, specifically tradition, affects well-being, i.e., happiness, life satisfaction, and financial satisfaction, along with socioeconomic factors in East Asia. Ordered probit regression model results show that women have higher happiness and satisfaction levels than men even in Confucian cultures in which men generally receive more favourable conditions than women. Additionally, marital status or the impact of religion had strong and positive effects on happiness and sometimes on life satisfaction but not on financial satisfaction. Interestingly, tradition has a statistically significant and important effect on both life and financial satisfaction. Finally, the results show that individuals who value tradition greater also have higher levels of financial satisfaction.

Functional Implications of the Flat-Topped Talus Following Treatment of Idiopathic Clubfoot Deformity

Category:Hindfoot; OtherIntroduction/Purpose:The flat-top talar dome is a well-known potential consequence of both operative and non-operative clubfoot management. While it is assumed that patients with a flat-top talus will have greater problems with daily activity, the functional impact of this deformity has not been characterized in the literature. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between talar dome morphology and ankle function at skeletal maturity in patients treated for idiopathic clubfoot deformity during infancy.Methods:33 skeletally mature patients (average age 17.9 years, SD 1.6 years) with 52 idiopathic clubfeet were identified from our institution’s clubfoot registry. Plain weight bearing lateral foot films, gait analysis and patient reported outcomes (PRO) using the Pediatric Orthopaedic Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) were obtained in all patients. Radius of curvature (ROC) of the talar dome and tibial plafond were measured along with numerous other parameters of talar and calcaneal morphology. Other measurements included talar dome radius to talar length (R/L) ratio, opening angle of the talar dome (alpha-angle), and talar dome to tibial plafond ROC (TD/TP) ratio. All measurements were correlated to PODCI scores and gait analysis data.Results:Patients demonstrated variability in talar dome ROC (mean 33.1mm, SD 19.6mm), R/L ratio (mean 0.60, SD 0.39), alpha- angle (mean 88.7°, SD 29.5°) and TD/TP ratio (mean 1.17, SD 0.44). Increased TD/TP ratio correlated negatively with maximal plantarflexion (r=0.404, p=0.005), ankle range of motion (ROM) (r=0.383, p=0.008) and maximum power generation during step off (r=0.381, p=0.008). Higher alpha-angle correlated positively with plantarflexion (r=0.404, p=0.005), ankle ROM (r=0.383, p=0.008) and maximum ankle power generation (r=0.381, p=0.008). Lower talar dome ROC correlated with increased maximum power generation (r=0.326, p=0.025). Increased R/L and TD/TP ratios correlated negatively with PODCI happiness domain scores (r=-0.353, p=0.044; r=-0.377, p=0.025, respectively). Talar length correlated with higher happiness and global function scores (r=0.393, p=0.024; r=0.360, p=0.040, respectively) and lower pain scores (r=0.354, p=0.043).Conclusion:While flatness of talar dome correlates significantly with altered gait mechanics, the effects on patient reported function are more modest during the second decade of life. Further study is required to assess the longer-term effects of the flat top talus on function and joint health.

Marked Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease Mortality by Levels of Happiness and Life Satisfaction in the United States

Background: Theimpact of happiness and life satisfaction on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is not well-studied. Using a longitudinal dataset, we examined the association between levels of happiness/life satisfaction and CVD mortality in the United States.
 Methods: We analyzed the 2001 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) prospectively linked to 2001-2014 mortality records in the National Death Index (NDI) (N=30,933). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model survival time as a function of happiness, life satisfaction, and sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics.
 Results: In Cox models with 14 years of mortality follow-up, CVD mortality risk was 59% higher (hazard ratio [HR]=1.59; 95% CI=1.26,2.02) in adults with little or no happiness, controlling for age, and 30% higher (HR=1.30; 95% CI=1.01,1.67) in adults with little/no happiness, controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral and health characteristics, when compared with adults reporting happiness most or all of the time. Mortality risk was 81% higher (HR=1.81; 95% CI=1.40,2.34) in adults who were very dissatisfied with their life, controlling for age, and 39% higher (HR=1.39; 95% CI=1.05,1.82) in adults who were very dissatisfied, controlling for all covariates, when compared with adults who were very satisfied.
 Conclusions and Implications for Translation: Adults with lower happiness and life satisfaction levels had significantly higher CVD mortality risks than those with higher happiness and life satisfaction levels. Subjective well-being is an important determinant of CVD mortality.
 Key words: • Happiness • Life satisfaction • Cardiovascular • Mortality • Longitudinal • Social determinants
 
 Copyright © 2020 Lee and Singh. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access arti-cle distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in this journal, is properly cited.

Intraindividual Variability and Empathic Accuracy for Happiness in Older Couples

Abstract. Empathic accuracy involves identifying the emotions of others. Most evidence is based on younger samples, which is limiting because of well-established motivational shifts that occur in older adulthood. Here, we examine associations between fluctuations in happiness and empathic accuracy, using momentary assessments of happiness from 107 couples ( Mage = 75.2) in Berlin (Germany; up to 42 assessments) and 117 couples ( Mage = 71.1) in Vancouver (Canada; up to 28 assessments). Coordinated analyses show that perceivers are more accurate when they themselves have high happiness variability (Berlin, Vancouver). Target happiness variability did not moderate accuracy slopes. Follow-up analyses explore the role of partners sharing their feelings. Examining moderators of empathic pattern accuracy extends our understanding of positive socioemotional functioning in older couples.