Title: Factors associated with happiness among college students: do academic self-efficacy and stress predict happiness?

Authors: Hassan Mahmoodi; Haidar Nadrian; Fahime Javid; Ghadriye Ahmadi; Rojia Kasravi; Masomeh Chavoshi; Fariba Golmohammadi

Addresses: Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ' Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ' Department of Public Health, Sarab University of Medical Sciences, Sarab, Iran ' Department of Public Health, Sarab University of Medical Sciences, Sarab, Iran ' Department of Public Health, Sarab University of Medical Sciences, Sarab, Iran ' Department of Public Health, Sarab University of Medical Sciences, Sarab, Iran ' Department of Public Health, Sarab University of Medical Sciences, Sarab, Iran

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between academic self-efficacy, academic stress and happiness among college students. In 2017, we recruited 290 students at an Iranian medical science university to participate in the study. The validated tools were used to collect data. Based on our findings, the significant determinants of happiness were gender (OR = 1.72 95% CI 1.01 - 2.93), the students' interest in their college major (OR = 2.17 95% CI 1.051 - 4.46), the first year of college (OR = 1.23 95% CI 1.12 - 1.35), high academic self-efficacy (OR = 2.20 95% CI 1.56, 2.18), and low academic stress (OR = 1.98 95% CI 1.02 - 3.82). Our findings highlighted the role of 'academic self-efficacy', 'academic stress', and 'interest in college' in predicting happiness among university students. The university healthcare providers should take into account these factors while designing mental health promotion programs aiming at happiness promotion among university students.

Keywords: happiness; academic self-efficacy; academic self-stress; students; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2019.098048

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2019 Vol.5 No.1, pp.14 - 24

Received: 14 Mar 2018
Accepted: 17 Aug 2018
Published online: 28 Feb 2019 *

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