Abstract
Happiness is a psychological resource and a state of positive well-being commonly attributed to human flourishing. Various social determinants of happiness among emerging adults (i.e., interpersonal relationships, organizational affiliations, school climate, and developmental markers) have been indicated by previous research. However, most prior research tackled these social antecedents of happiness separately. Drawing from an online survey sample of 1,215 Filipino undergraduate students, this quantitative, cross-sectional study sought to determine the social-ecological predictors of happiness among emerging adults. The Subjective Happiness Scale was used to measure the dependent variable. Explanatory variables were based on the systems of the social-ecological model. Individual system factors included age, sex assigned at birth, and gender and sexual identity. Micro-/mesosystem factors included family, friends, and school community. Exo-/macrosystem factors included national-level social factors, such as self-identification with one’s country, social solidarity, and trust in public institutions The chronosystem factor was operationalized as emerging adulthood markers. Descriptive results reveal a moderate level of happiness among the respondents. Moreover, hierarchical regression analysis reveals that significant positive predictors of happiness are being cisgender and heterosexual, having favorable relationships with family and in school, reporting high trust in public institutions, demonstrating a better sense of experimentation/possibilities, and lower negativity/instability during their time in emerging adulthood (p<0.05). The present study’s findings highlight that happiness during emerging adulthood is a function of social factors from various socioecological locations; hence, initiatives to improve happiness among emerging adults must be multisectoral (i.e., involving multiple social institutions) and inclusive.
Presenters
Jerome CleofasProfessor, Department of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences, De La Salle University, Philippines
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
College, Emerging Adulthood, Family, Happiness, Mental Health, Social Systems, Youth
