Happiness and Socio-Demographic Factors in an Italian Sample: A Propensity-Matched Study

Abstract

Happiness is receiving more and more interest both as a determinant of health and a measure of outcome in biomedical and psychological sciences. The main objective of this study was to assess how the levels of happiness vary in a large sample of Italian adults and to identify the socio-demographic conditions which impair happiness domains the most. The participants of this survey consisted of 1695 Italian adults (85.9% women; 14.1% men) who completed the Measure of Happiness (MH) questionnaire online. In this study, the differences between groups in total and single domain (life perspective, psychophysical status, socio-relational sphere, relational private sphere, and financial status) happiness levels were examined through a propensity score matching analysis with respect to socio-demographic conditions, including gender, age, annual income, relationship status, having children, and education level. The results show that low income has a negative impact on happiness levels, whereas being in a relationship has a positive effect. Having children appears to have a negative impact on male happiness. Males appear to be happier than females, especially with regard to the psychophysics status. This evidence emphasizes the urgency for Italian policymakers to take actions on removing obstacles to people’s happiness, especially with regard to financial distress, parenthood, and gender gaps.

Demographic, Psychosocial, and Lifestyle-Related Characteristics of Forest Therapy Participants in Italy: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey

“…This study has practical implications in various areas. Firstly, considering the existing gender gap in happiness and well-being, forest therapy and other outdoor activities that foster a connection with nature could be utilized to promote psychological well-being, specifically among women [27]. By engaging in such activities, women may experience positive effects on their mental health.…”

Validation Study of the Spanish Version of the Measure of Happiness (MH) Questionnaire

“…However, none of these measures provide insights into the specific dimensions of a person's life that are responsible for their overall level of experienced happiness. For these reasons, the Measure of Happiness (MH) was designed: This 14-item questionnaire is constructed with a comprehensive approach and is designed with the goals of being concise, possessing strong psychometric qualities, and being valuable for both research purposes and for the consideration of government bodies, national and international organizations, and social institutions interested in uncovering the determinants of individual or community happiness levels [19]. Following its validation in the Italian language [2], the Measure of Happiness (MH) was planned to undergo a process of translation into other languages.…”