Factors Affecting Happiness of School Children

Abstract

Parents, teachers and managers are crucial elements and play a key role in raising happy and healthy individuals. Besides the factors that determine the level of happiness, turning happiness into something that can be taught puts responsibility on people who are accountable for raising children starting from first-year education. Our study aims to offer suggestions to contribute to students’ happiness by determining variables which affect the level of happiness of students whose study levels vary from 3rd grade to 12th grade. Sample space is composed of 2187 students in total and 28 different schools located in İzmir-Dikili and Foça district. “School Children Happiness Inventory” was used to measure students’ happiness levels. “One Way ANOVA”, “t-test”, “Varian’s Homogeneity Test”, Welch and Post-hoc tests are used for the statistical analysis of data. The results of the statistical analysis have illustrated that students’ happiness score does not depend on grade, the number of siblings, financial situation, whether a mother is working or mother’s job type. On the other hand, it has seen that happiness score decreases when a father is unemployed, and parents are divorced. Other important data shows that happiness score decreases as students get older. Findings have demonstrated that enjoying going to school, spending quality time with their peers and having fun with them as well as having higher self-esteem and feeling safe in school environment contribute to the level of happiness of students in a positive way. A necessary suggestion has been provided to contribute to students’ level of happiness.

A Study on the Relationship Between Happiness and Health Behaviors in Adolescents: Shahrekord 2019

“…In addition, the findings showed that the happiness score decreased with increasing age. 13 However, the results regarding the relationship of happiness with age and living with parents' status are similar to those in our study.…”

Prediksi Hubungan Sosial dan Temperamen terhadap Kebahagiaan Anak Usia Dini

“…Kebahagiaan merupakan kepuasan yang sering dirasakan pada periode tertentu yang dapat diukur dari satu pertanyaan (Pranoto & Hong, 2018). Beberapa hal yang dapat mempengaruhi tingkat kebahagiaan anak adalah menikmati kebersamaan dengan orang lain, memiliki rasa percaya diri, ingin bersekolah, bersenangsenang dan merasa sekolah adalah tempat yang aman (Mertoğlu, 2020).…”

The effect of laughter therapy on happiness and self‐esteem level in 5th grade students

“…Perhaps for this reason, happiness is still a current research subject (Veenhoven, 2012). Yet, there are only a few studies in the literature that delve into secondary school children's happiness (Cho et al, 2009; Ho & Ip, 2018; Mertoglu, 2020). In a study involving 2187 students ranging from 3rd grade to 12th grade, Mertoglu (2020) found that the happiness level of children was high and the level of happiness of students decreased as they passed to higher grades at school.…”

“…Yet, there are only a few studies in the literature that delve into secondary school children's happiness (Cho et al, 2009; Ho & Ip, 2018; Mertoglu, 2020). In a study involving 2187 students ranging from 3rd grade to 12th grade, Mertoglu (2020) found that the happiness level of children was high and the level of happiness of students decreased as they passed to higher grades at school. Similarly, Cho et al (2009) found that the happiness level of primary school students was high and their happiness level decreased as their grade levels increased.…”