International Journal of Happiness and Development (7 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Happiness as an Unmet Reality in Pakistan: Discourses of Divorced & Separated Individuals  
  by Saira Batool, Rabia Ali 
  Abstract: This research paper highlights the dilemmas associated with the social construction of marriage versus the ideation of marriage as a modern symbol of unity in contemporary Pakistan. The paper draws on the narratives of sixteen divorced and separated men/women. These findings reveal that women experience marriage differently compared to men. Marital happiness for women is attained in their willingness to act in subordinate and submissive roles due to the hegemonic masculinity of men. The marriage contract in Pakistani society gives an upper hand to men and women are expected to be obedient and respectful. In this study, based on their personal experiences all divorced and separated women considered happiness in marriage merely a temporary situation. Defying the patterns of obedience had led to unhappiness and dissatisfaction in their marital relationships. The major problem had been the inability to accept the ground realities of marriage in its practical form in contrast to their perception of marriage as a romantic and happy relationship. When the ground realities didnt meet their expectations; their relations came to an end leading to social stigma and emotional dilemmas. These findings suggest the need to rethink marriage as a complex and evolving institution in contemporary Pakistan.
  Keywords: Happiness; Divorce; Separation; Marriage; Imagination; Qualitative Methods.
  
  
• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FINANCIAL STRESS AND HAPPINESS AMONG NIGERIANS: THE INTERMEDIARY ROLE OF MEANING OF LIFE  
  by Alex I. Shaahu, James T. Gire 
  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 1878 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.
  Keywords: financial stress; meaning in life; happiness; Nigeria.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2023.10050950
   
  
• Exploring the relationships among forbidden fruit effect, trust, and engagement in online communities  
  by Thuy Dung Pham Thi  
  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.
  Keywords: online community; FFF; forbidden fruit effect; trust; engagement; mediating; moderating.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2023.10058430
   
  
• Explaining the linkages of happiness construct: a theoretical and empirical study on Indian population  
  by V.K. Shrotryia, Shashank Vikram Pratap Singh 
  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 (19901991 to 20192020). 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.
  Keywords: happiness; India; life satisfaction; subjective well-being; well- being; human well-being.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2023.10058431
   
  
• Association of morningness-eveningness preference, happiness, and academic achievement with procrastination in university students  
  by Ayse Nesibe Önder, Ezgi Güven Yildirim, Ismail Onder 
  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.
  Keywords: morningness-eveningness preference; happiness; academic achievement; procrastination; university students.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2023.10058686
   
  
• The Impact of Internet Use on Chinese Residents’ Subjective Well-being  
  by Jianyu Chi  
  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.
  Keywords: internet use; internet usage frequency; leisure and entertainment; social justice; subjective well-being.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2023.10058687
   
  
• Gender differences in the determinants of happiness and life satisfaction among Ghanaians: the effects of leisure time, social network and (in)security  
  by Ibrahim Mohammed, Rufai Haruna Kilu 
  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.
  Keywords: gender differences; happiness; life satisfaction; leisure time; social networks; insecurity.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2023.10058689