Meaning of Happiness in Children: an Exploratory Study

Rahmatika Kurnia Romadhani

doi:10.21831/pri.v3i1.34753

Meaning of Happiness in Children: an Exploratory Study

Rahmatika Kurnia Romadhani, Department of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia

10.21831/pri.v3i1.34753

Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore what makes children happy. The study was a survey on the number of 64 elementary students. An open-ended questionnaire was used to learn what makes children happy. The data was analyzed using preliminary coding, categorization, axial coding, and selective coding. The respondents’ answers were analyzed using descriptive analysis. Result showed that there were two elements of the source of children happiness, those are (1) Self-fulfillment (95.54%) consisting of doing activity, doing hobby, leisure time, achievement, gift; (2) Relations with others (4.46%) consist of relations with family and friends. This study gave insight that self-fulfillment is an important source of happiness in children. This study shows that all are nothing but social engagement.

Keywords

Happiness; Children; Self-Fulfillment

Full Text:

PDF

References

Argylle, M. (2001). The psychology of happiness. New York: Routledge.

Boven, V. L. (2005). Materialism and the pursuit of happiness. Review of general psychology, 2, 132-142.

Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542-575.

Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. (1999). Subjective well being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276-302.

Haller, & Hadler. (2006). How social relation and structures can produce happiness and unhappiness: An international comparative analysis. Social Indicator Research: Springer.

Irma, E. (2014). In pursuit of Happines: How some young south African Children construct Happiness. Journal Of Psychology in Africa. 18: 81-87

Lyubormrsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefit of frequent positive affect: Does Happpiness lead to success. American Psychological Association Psychology Bulletin, 131(6), 803-855.

Primasari, A., & Yuniarti, K. W., (2012). What make teenagers happy? An exploratory study using indigenous psychology approach. International Journal of Research Studies in Psychology. 1, 53-61. DOI: 10.5861/ijrsp.2012/v/li2.80

Uchida, Y. (2004). Cultural constructions of happiness: Theory and empirical evidence. Journal of Happiness Studies, 5, 223-239. Doi: 10.1007/s10902-004-8785-9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21831/pri.v3i1.34753