DYNAMICS OF INDIVIDUAL AND CONTEXTUAL FACTORS OF HAPPINESS AMONG RURAL ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
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Date
2011
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study entitled “Dynamics of individual and contextual factors of happiness
among rural adolescents living in socio-economic hardship” was undertaken to assess the
level of happiness among rural adolescents experiencing persistent socio-economic hardship
and to examine the contribution of individual attributes like self-esteem and personality
patterns and contextual factors like family functioning, perceived social support and life
events, on happiness of rural poor adolescents. An interplay between the psychological and
contextual variables as a causal chain in the process of happiness was also studied. The
sample included 360 adolescents (15-18 years of age) belonging to intact two parent families
and living in conditions of socio-economic hardship. The results revealed that despite living
in conditions of socio-economic hardship, majority of rural adolescents perceived high degree
of happiness. Female adolescents perceived significantly more happiness in their life as
compared to their male counterparts. Males manifested significantly higher psychoticism in
their personality, greater self esteem and more independence, whereas, females were
significantly more extravert and expressive. Correlation analysis revealed that psychoticism
was significantly negatively correlated with happiness among adolescents. Self-esteem among
adolescents, accepting and caring family environment and social support were significantly
positively correlated with happiness. The happiest group of adolescents held significantly
higher self-esteem, were less psychotic, experienced less stressful life events, lower family
conflict, control and perceived more social support as compared to the unhappy adolescents.
Regression analysis revealed that psychotic personality pattern emerged as a strongest risk
factor, whereas, social support emerged as the strongest protective factor. Interplay between
happiness and individual and contextual factors revealed that self-esteem functioned as a
mediator between happiness and its determinants like social support and stressful life events
among adolescents, whereas, psychoticism showed a direct negative path to happiness and
indirect path through social support.
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