Determining the Factors Influencing Happiness among Young People

Subject Areas : Thematic Analysis

Mohammad Reza Karimi ¹ , Javad Khodadadi Sangdeh ²

1 - MA, Family Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Counseling Department, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2024-11-30 Accepted : 2025-01-01 Published : 2025-01-04

Keywords: youth period, happiness, theme analysis, purposive sampling, structured interview,

Abstract :

Happiness is often considered a relatively consistent and positive attribute characterized by mental well-being and overall life satisfaction. Accordingly, the present study aimed to identify the components that shape youth happiness. Employing a qualitative research design, the study utilized a thematic analysis approach. The participants included young people who had achieved average to high scores on the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire. They also expressed their happiness in interviews. Furthermore, these individuals fulfilled all criteria required for participation in the study. Participants were chosen through purposive sampling and accessible methods from a pool of eligible volunteers. Sampling continued until theoretical saturation was reached, involving 23 individuals who participated in semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the interviews revealed 134 open codes, 60 sub-themes, 4 main themes and 1 core theme were. Thematic analysis of the data revealed main reasons influencing youth happiness: individual, family, social facilitators, and impactful actions. Accordingly, the findings highlight that young people maintain a satisfactory level of happiness by benefiting from these four core aspects. Consequently, greater focus and deeper exploration of the factors shaping happiness are warranted.

References:

تقوی، سیدمحمدرضا. (1387). هنجاریابی پرسشنامه سلامت عمومی (GHQ) بر روی دانشجویان دانشگاه شیراز. روانشناسی بالینی و شخصیت، 6(1)، 12-1.
خدادادی، محمدرسول، نجدرحمتی، بهروز و فرید فتحی، مریم. (۱۳۹۵). ارتباط انگیزه مشارکت ورزشی، نشاط و شادابی با پیشرفت تحصیلی دانش‌آموزان پسر دوره متوسطه اول شهرستان بناب. نشریه پژوهش در ورزش تربیتی، ۱۳، ۱۵۵-۱۷۴.
رشیدی کوچی، فریده، نجفی، محمود و محمدی‌فر، محمدعلی. (۱۳۹۵). نقش سرمایه‌های روان‌شناختی مثبت و عملکرد خانواده در پیش‌بینی شادکامی در دانش‌آموزان دبیرستانی. پژوهش‌نامه روان‌شناسی مثبت، ۲(۳)، ۷۹-۹۵.
سلطانی، سعید و قاسم‌زاده، داود. (۱۴۰۰). تبیین جامعه‌شناختی شادکامی جوانان بر اساس عوامل سرمایه‌ای و غیرسرمایه‌ای. برنامه‌ریزی رفاه توسعه اجتماعی، 12(۴۸)، ۶۵-۱۰۳.
عابدی، محمدرضا، میرشاه‌جعفری، ابراهیم و لیاقتدار، محمدجواد. (۱۳۸۵). هنجاریابی پرسش‌نامه شادکامی آکسفورد در دانشجویان دانشگاه‌های اصفهان. مجله روانپزشکی و روان‌شناسی بالینی ایران، ۱۲(۲). ۹۵-۱۰۰.
مقتدر، لیلا و مهرگان، بتول. (۱۳۹۹). تأثیر مثبت‌نگری بر اساس آموزه‌های قرآنی در امیدواری و شادکامی نوجوانان. علمی- پژوهشی قرآن و طب، 4(5)، ۳۶-۴۲.
An, H. N., & Phương, L. D. M. (2019). Whether individualism makes people from the “West” happier and collectivism makes people from the “East” more satisfied in life: An individual-level analysis. Hue University Journal of Science: Social Sciences and Humanities, 128(6B), 57-70.
Aras, S. G., Runyon, J. R., Kazman, J. B., Thayer, J. F., Sternberg, E. M., & Deuster, P. A. (2024). Is Greener Better? Quantifying the Impact of a Nature Walk on Stress Reduction Using HRV and Saliva Cortisol Biomarkers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(11), 1491. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111491
Baiocco, R., Verrastro, V., Fontanesi, L., Ferrara, M. P., & Pistella, J. (2019). The contributions of self-esteem, loneliness, and friendship to children’s happiness: The roles of gender and age. Child Indicators Research, 12, 1413-1433.
Ben-Zur, H. (2003). Happy adolescents: The link between subjective well-being, internal resources, and parental factors. Youth and Adolescence, 32, 67-79.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Buecker, S., Maes, M., Denissen, J. J., & Luhmann, M. (2020). Loneliness and the Big Five personality traits: A meta–analysis. European Journal of Personality, 34(1), 8-28.
Card, K. G., & Skakoon-Sparling, S. (2023). Are social support, loneliness, and social connection differentially associated with happiness across levels of introversion-extraversion?. Health Psychology Open, 10(1), 2055102923118403 4. https://doi.org/10.1177/20551029231184034.
Chen, P. (2023). Understanding and Addressing Youth Depression: Risk Factors, Resources, and Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being. Psychology, 14(8), 1189-1202.
Czikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience (pp. 75-77). New York: Harper & Row.
Diener, E., Lucas, R. E., & Oishi, S. (2018). Advances and open questions in the science of subjective well-being. Collabra: Psychology, 4(1), 15.
Dossey, L. (2018). The helper's high. Explore, 14(6), 393-399.
Dsouza, J., Chakraborty, A., & Veigas, J. (2020). Biological Connection to the Feeling of Happiness. Clinical & Diagnostic Research, 14(10).
Eckroth-Bucher M. (2010). Self-awareness: A review and analysis of a basic nursing concept. Advances in Nursing Science, 33(4), 297-309.
Feiler, D. C., & Kleinbaum, A. M. (2015). Popularity, similarity, and the network extraversion bias. Psychological Science, 26(5), 593-603.
Feng, L., & Zhong, H. (2021). Interrelationships and methods for improving university students' sense of gain, sense of security, and happiness. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 729400.
Fitzpatrick, N. (2022). No news is not good news: The implications of news fatigue and news avoidance in a pandemic world. Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications, 8(3), 145-160.
Frisch, M. B., Cornell, J., Villanueva, M., & Retzlaff, P. J. (1992). Clinical validation of the Quality of Life Inventory. A measure of life satisfaction for use in treatment planning and outcome assessment. Psychological Assessment, 4(1), 92-101.
Hammen, C. (2009). Adolescent depression: Stressful interpersonal contexts and risk for recurrence. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(4), 200-204.
Hankin, B. L., & Griffith, J. M. (2023). What do we know about depression among youth and how can we make Progress toward improved understanding and reducing distress? A new Hope. Clinical Child And Family Psychology Review, 26(4), 919-942.
Holder, M. D., & Klassen, A. (2010). Temperament and happiness in children. Happiness Studies, 11, 419-439.
Izzo, F., Baiocco, R., & Pistella, J. (2022). Children’s and adolescents’ happiness and family functioning: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16593.
Lim, H. E., Shaw, D., Liao, P. S., & Duan, H. (2020). The effects of income on happiness in East and South Asia: Societal values matter?. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21, 391-415.
Lok, I., & Dunn, E. W. (2020). Under what conditions does prosocial spending promote happiness?. Collabra: Psychology, 6(1), 5.
Maftei, A., Holman, A. C., & Cârlig, E. R. (2020). Does your child think you’re happy? Exploring the associations between children’s happiness and parenting styles. Children and Youth Services Review, 115, 105074.
Menculini, G., Cinesi, G., Scopetta, F., Cardelli, M., Caramanico, G., Balducci, P. M., & Tortorella, A. (2024). Major challenges in youth psychopathology: treatment-resistant depression. A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1417977.
Ogihara, Y., & Uchida, Y. (2014). Does individualism bring happiness? Negative effects of individualism on interpersonal relationships and happiness. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 135.
Pearce, J. (1996). Psychosocial disturbances in young people: Challenges for prevention. BMJ, 312(7028), 453.
Pehlivan, C., Özbay, F., & Bingöl, N. (2022). Main economic factors affecting the determination of happiness: A research on Turkey. Sosyal Politika Çalışmaları Dergisi, 22(55), 259-275.
Polatcı, S., Antalyalı, Ö. L., Alparslan, A. M., & Yastıoğlu, S. (2023). Young people’s happiness in the context of negative life events and coping strategies: a latent profile and latent class analysis. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 335.
Raboteg-Šarić, Z., Brajša-Žganec, A., & Šakić, M. (2009). Life satisfaction in adolescents: The effects of perceived family economic status, self-esteem and quality of family and peer relationships. Društvena Istraživanja: Časopis Za Opća Društvena Pitanja, 18(3), 547-564.
Sabolova, K., Birdsey, N., Stuart-Hamilton, I., & Cousins, A. L. (2020). A cross-cultural exploration of children’s perceptions of wellbeing: Understanding protective and risk factors. Children and Youth Services Review, 110, 104771.
Saeed, N. B., Melhem, M. B., & Al-Ababneh, H. (2023). The impact of some types of physical activity on the level of releasing serotonin hormone (a comparative study). Educational and Psychological Sciences Series, 2(1), 119-134.
Seligman, M. E. (2004). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Simon and Schuster.
Sharkansky, E. J., King, D. W., King, L. A., Wolfe, J., Erickson, D. J., & Stokes, L. R. (2000). Coping with Gulf War combat stress: Mediating and moderating effects. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(2), 188.
Sharma, B. (2019). Depressive Disorders: A Bane for Society. Homœopathic Links, 32(04), 207-207.
Sharma, U., & Venkatesan, M. (2021). A Study of Personality, Self-Esteem and Happiness Among Graduates. IUP Journal of Management Research, 20(1).
Štefan, L., Juranko, D., Prosoli, R., Barić, R., & Sporiš, G. (2017). Self-reported sleep duration and self-rated health in young adults. Clinical Sleep Medicine, 13(7), 899-904.
Umeaku, N. N., & Chiekezie, O. M. P. (2023). Personality traits and complexion as predictors of subjective happiness among undergraduates. The Management Sciences, 60(2), 292-301.
Vella-Brodrick, D. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2009). Three ways to be happy: Pleasure, engagement, and meaning—Findings from Australian and US samples. Social Indicators Research, 90, 165-179.
Waldinger, R., & Schulz, M. (2023). The good life: Lessons from the world's longest scientific study of happiness. Simon and Schuster.
Wang, M., & Wong, M. S. (2014). Happiness and leisure across countries: Evidence from international survey data. Happiness Studies, 15, 85-118.
Wei, X., Huang, S., Stodolska, M., & Yu, Y. (2015). Leisure time, leisure activities, and happiness in China: Evidence from a national survey. Leisure Research, 47(5), 556-576.
Whitson, H. E., Duan-Porter, W., Schmader, K. E., Morey, M. C., Cohen, H. J., & Colón-Emeric, C. S. (2016). Physical resilience in older adults: systematic review and development of an emerging construct. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sciences, 71(4), 489-495.
Wnuk, M., Marcinkowski, J. T., & Fobair, P. (2012). The relationship of purpose in life and hope in shaping happiness among patients with cancer in Poland. Psychosocial Oncology, 30(4), 461-483.
Yap, M. B. H., Pilkington, P. D., Ryan, S. M., & Jorm, A. F. (2014). Parental factors associated with depression and anxiety in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 156, 8-23.
Zagórski, K. (2011). Income and happiness in time of post-communist modernization. Social Indicators Research, 104, 331-349.