Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Suzan Odabaşi Author-X-Name-First: Suzan Author-X-Name-Last: Odabaşi Title: The relationship between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and suicide rates: evidence from panel data Abstract: Suicide is a serious economic and public health problem of this century. In addition to the public health consequences of suicidal behaviours, the economic losses are significant and can result in loss of productive capacity, earnings, treatment costs, and work loss costs. This study investigates whether the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments/benefits have an impact on mental-health related suicides. The estimation is conducted for three different groups: 1) the overall group; 2) the female group; and 3) the male group by applying two different approaches: the fixed-effects and the quantile regression methods. The findings show that the SNAP benefits help to reduce stress-associated suicides. Additionally, the results support that accessing health services and having health insurance are two important factors associated with the number of suicides per 100,000. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 1-16 Issue: 1 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: welfare payments; government expenditures and health; instrumental variables (IV) estimation; SNAP; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; suicide. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=131523 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:1:p:1-16 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Fatih Sonmez Author-X-Name-First: Fatih Author-X-Name-Last: Sonmez Title: Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Aspiration Index and the relationship between aspirations and subjective well-being Abstract: The 35-item Aspiration Index (Kasser and Ryan, 1996) comprises seven life goals and is a widely used tool for measuring how much individuals care about each life goal and for deriving a relative intrinsic/extrinsic goal orientation score. This research tested the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Aspiration Index and investigated the relationships between life goals and subjective well-being. The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed a seven-factor solution, as expected, and the factors exhibited good reliability. A follow-up confirmatory factor analysis supported the seven-factor structure by showing that the data fit the model well and that the index demonstrated good structural validity. The present research also found that the only life goal with significant correlations to subjective well-being was the community contributions goal. Moreover, age was positively correlated with subjective well-being, and women were more intrinsically oriented and more satisfied with their lives than men. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 28-43 Issue: 1 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: Aspiration Index; cross-cultural validation; goal orientation; life goals; life satisfaction; happiness; personal values; subjective well-being; consumer culture. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=131527 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:1:p:28-43 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Nhan Duc Nguyen Author-X-Name-First: Nhan Duc Author-X-Name-Last: Nguyen Author-Name: Wen Cheng Author-X-Name-First: Wen Author-X-Name-Last: Cheng Author-Name: Hieu Minh Tran Author-X-Name-First: Hieu Minh Author-X-Name-Last: Tran Title: How self-esteem mediates the relationship between passive social network use and hedonic well-being: the comparison of Taiwanese and Vietnamese students Abstract: Guided by social comparison theory and cultural characteristics, our study examined the mediating effect of self-esteem on the correlation of passive use with hedonic well-being (HWB). A total of 1004 respondents (Taiwanese and Vietnamese) participated in the self-report study. The results revealed that the mediation of self-esteem in the relationship between passive use and HWB played differently between Taiwan (a full mediation) and Vietnam (a partial mediation). An integration of social comparison and cultural aspects supported us in explaining how the mediating effect of self-esteem in the relationship between passive social network use and HWB functioned differently between the Taiwanese and Vietnamese students. The study implications for educational aspects are also discussed. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 17-27 Issue: 1 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: passive social network use; self-esteem; hedonic well-being; life satisfaction; positive emotions; Taiwan; Vietnam. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=131529 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:1:p:17-27 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hailey Pawsey Author-X-Name-First: Hailey Author-X-Name-Last: Pawsey Author-Name: Kenneth M. Cramer Author-X-Name-First: Kenneth M. Author-X-Name-Last: Cramer Author-Name: Denise DeBlock Author-X-Name-First: Denise Author-X-Name-Last: DeBlock Title: Life satisfaction and Maslow's hierarchy of needs: an international analysis of the world values survey Abstract: To assess Maslow's hierarchy of needs ability to predict life satisfaction, the present study utilised Wave-7 (2017-2020) of the World Values Survey. Data included measures for each level in Maslow's hierarchy for 69,000 individuals across 48 nations. Maslow's hierarchy of needs hypothesised greater life satisfaction would be identified among respondents with greater health satisfaction at the first level; financial satisfaction and income at the second level; importance of family, friends, and love and belonging at the third level; and importance of work, leisure, and self-esteem at the fourth level. Analyses at both respondent and national levels were supportive. Among respondents, life satisfaction was predicted by financial satisfaction, health, family, friends, work, and leisure; among nations, only financial satisfaction was significant, regardless of wealth distribution. These findings offer important insight into Maslow's hierarchy and life satisfaction, highlighting financial satisfaction as a salient factor in the enjoyment of a satisfying life. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 66-79 Issue: 1 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: Maslow; hierarchy of needs; fulfilment; self-actualisation; life satisfaction; health; income; affiliation; esteem; belonging; individual differences; national differences. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=131530 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:1:p:66-79 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pei-An Liao Author-X-Name-First: Pei-An Author-X-Name-Last: Liao Author-Name: Lin Lin Author-X-Name-First: Lin Author-X-Name-Last: Lin Author-Name: Hung-Hao Chang Author-X-Name-First: Hung-Hao Author-X-Name-Last: Chang Title: Immigration policy and well-being of female foreign spouses: a case study of the effect of granting a work permit Abstract: Immigration policies have been revised to improve immigrants' well-being in many countries. However, not much is known about how the policy reform affects female immigrant spouses' well-being. Exploiting an immigration policy reform in Taiwan, this study quantifies the effect of the reform on Mainland Chinese wives' happiness and income. Using a two-year population-based survey of the foreign wives in Taiwan before and after the policy reform and the difference-in-differences approach, we find that the policy reform increases Mainland Chinese wives' household income by 10.1% and their likelihood of being happy by 3.6%. With respect to the potential mechanism behind the policy's effect, we suggest that the potential driver could be increased employment opportunities in white-collar jobs for Mainland Chinese wives. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 44-65 Issue: 1 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: immigration policies; well-being; females; foreign spouses; work permits; happiness; income; employment; difference-in-differences; Taiwan. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=131531 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:1:p:44-65 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Alex I. Shaahu Author-X-Name-First: Alex I. Author-X-Name-Last: Shaahu Author-Name: James T. Gire Author-X-Name-First: James T. Author-X-Name-Last: Gire Title: Relationship between financial stress and happiness among Nigerians: the intermediary role of meaning of life Abstract: The current study utilising a moderated mediation analysis investigated the impact of financial stress and meaning in life on happiness in a community-based sample of 482 individuals, aged 18-78 years in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital in North Central Nigeria. The satisfaction with life scale (SWLS), the economic strain scale, and meaning in life questionnaire (MLQ) were used in gathering the data which were analysed using Hayes' process macro. The results showed that financial stress was negatively associated with happiness and presence of meaning, but was positively associated with search for meaning. The presence of meaning partially mediated the financial stress-happiness relationship, and the strength of this partial mediation was moderated by the search for meaning. The findings suggest that under financial stress, presence of meaning may serve as a foundation upon which people initiate a search for meaning (SFM) that enables them cope with ongoing challenges that threatens their wellbeing. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 128-154 Issue: 2 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: financial stress; meaning in life; happiness; Nigeria. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=134369 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:2:p:128-154 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: T.D. Pham Thi Author-X-Name-First: T.D. Pham Author-X-Name-Last: Thi Title: Exploring the relationships among forbidden fruit effect, trust, and engagement in online communities Abstract: Maintaining the harmonious development of online communities has become critical to all the community members. However, it is worth exploring what kind of interaction will cause the unfavourable effect. Therefore, with a sample of 334 online community users, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between the online community forbidden fruit effect (FFE), online trust, and online community engagement (OCE). First, we used factor analysis to classify the three variables. Then, SPSS and PROCESS were used for hypothesis testing. The findings showed that: 1) the FFE positively correlates with OCE; 2) Online trust positively correlates with OCE; and 3) Regarding moderating and mediating effects, user trust and information trust partially moderate and mediates the relationship between the FFE and OCE. The findings provided information that is helpful for practitioners and users to maintain the long-term development of online communities. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 169-195 Issue: 2 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: online community; FFF; forbidden fruit effect; trust; engagement; mediating; moderating. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=134378 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:2:p:169-195 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V.K. Shrotryia Author-X-Name-First: V.K. Author-X-Name-Last: Shrotryia Author-Name: Shashank Vikram Pratap Singh Author-X-Name-First: Shashank Vikram Pratap Author-X-Name-Last: Singh Title: Explaining the linkages of happiness construct: a theoretical and empirical study on Indian population Abstract: The last few decades have seen the fruits of political and intellectual deliberations in the form of voluminous literature on various aspects of happiness and well-being gleaned from various types of academic and experiential research. This paper is an attempt to explain the numerous linkages of happiness/well-being construct and bring them together in one place so that well-being construct can be theorised and measured scientifically. We used the same technique as practiced to assess the level of happiness among the people of India by following two-stage measurement process. At the first stage, through online and offline standard questionnaires, and additionally by examined available proxy indicators for last 30 years (1990-1991 to 2019-2020). We have collected a sample of 2695 from all over India. Using techniques like Canonical Correlation Analysis, Anova and T test, adjusted national income the study recommends that Government of India (GoI) should follow mix policy for collective and Individual wellbeing. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 102-127 Issue: 2 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: happiness; India; life satisfaction; subjective well-being; wellbeing; human well-being. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=134379 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:2:p:102-127 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ayşe Nesibe Önder Author-X-Name-First: Ayşe Nesibe Author-X-Name-Last: Önder Author-Name: Ezgi Güven Yıldırım Author-X-Name-First: Ezgi Güven Author-X-Name-Last: Yıldırım Author-Name: İsmail Önder Author-X-Name-First: İsmail Author-X-Name-Last: Önder Title: Association of morningness-eveningness preference, happiness, and academic achievement with procrastination in university students Abstract: Procrastination is a common problem among university students and may have negative consequences on students' academic performance, physical and mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between procrastination and morningness-eveningness preference, happiness and academic achievement. The data was collected from 303 university students aged between 19 and 22 years. Tuckman procrastination scale, composite scale of morningness (CSM) and the Oxford happiness questionnaire short-form were used as data collecting tools. Results indicated that the prevalence of academic procrastination among university students was 48.5%. Meanwhile, no statistical difference was found between procrastination scores in terms of gender and grade level. Morningness was the main predictor of academic procrastination. Academic achievement and happiness also contributed to the variance explained in academic procrastination. As a result of this study, it was found that happiness, academic achievement and morningness scores decreased with the increase of procrastination scores. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 155-168 Issue: 2 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: morningness-eveningness preference; happiness; academic achievement; procrastination; university students. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=134381 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:2:p:155-168 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jianyu Chi Author-X-Name-First: Jianyu Author-X-Name-Last: Chi Title: The impact of internet use on Chinese residents' subjective well-being Abstract: As internet technology plays an increasingly important role in modern life, the impact of internet use on residents has also attracted more attention. Based on the 2017 China General Social Survey data (CGSS2017), we established an Ologit model to test the relationship between internet use and residents' subjective well-being (SWB). We found that using the internet can significantly improve the subjective well-being of residents. Compared with never surfing the internet, a lower frequency of internet surfing does not improve happiness, but a higher frequency will significantly improve residents' happiness. It positively impacts their SWB through two channels: increasing residents' participation in leisure and entertainment and improving residents' sense of social justice. Increasing active hedonic leisure time, can improve the happiness of Chinese urban residents. Furthermore, social justice is also one of the factors that affect happiness. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 83-101 Issue: 2 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: internet use; internet usage frequency; leisure and entertainment; social justice; subjective well-being. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=134382 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:2:p:83-101 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ibrahim Mohammed Author-X-Name-First: Ibrahim Author-X-Name-Last: Mohammed Author-Name: Rufai Haruna Kilu Author-X-Name-First: Rufai Haruna Author-X-Name-Last: Kilu Title: Gender differences in the determinants of happiness and life satisfaction among Ghanaians: the effects of leisure time, social network and (in)security Abstract: While the literature on subjective well-being (SWB) is replete with studies from the Western world, studies from Sub-Saharan Africa are not only a few but also limited in the set of variables that are identified as correlates of happiness and life satisfaction. Drawing data from the World Values Survey on Ghana and applying a multivariate ordered logistic regression technique, we find that the importance of leisure time is positively associated with the probability of being happy and satisfied with life for both men and women. However, formal or institutionalised social networks and security concerns are only significant predictors of the probability of happiness but not life satisfaction. The gender analysis results reveal that the effects of social networks and security on happiness are pronounced in women but not men. Thus, we recommend promoting happiness and life satisfaction by facilitating social networks and addressing security concerns. Journal: Int. J. of Happiness and Development Pages: 196-218 Issue: 2 Volume: 8 Year: 2023 Keywords: gender differences; happiness; life satisfaction; leisure time; social networks; insecurity. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=134383 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:8:y:2023:i:2:p:196-218