Happiness in University Students: Personal, Familial, and Social Factors: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Survey

Yingying Jiang, Chan Lu, Jing Chen, Yufeng Miao, Yuguo Li and Qihong Deng
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Yingying Jiang: School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Chan Lu: XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
Jing Chen: School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Yufeng Miao: School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Yuguo Li: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Qihong Deng: School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: Happiness is the foundation of a better life and a goal that people pursue; however, happiness levels among university students are low. The purpose of this study is to explore the main factors influencing student happiness. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in China in 2020. Data on student happiness was collected using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and students’ personal, familial, and social information were obtained using another questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between student happiness and these factors in terms of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 2186 valid questionnaires were obtained. Firstly, student happiness was found to be associated with personal factors. The results found that happiness was significantly associated with state of health, the adjusted OR (95% CI) = 3.41 (2.01–5.79) for healthy students compared to unhealthy students, and that happiness decreased with the student’s age (OR = 0.79 and 95% CI = 0.63–0.98). Secondly, the research suggested that happiness was associated with familial factors. Both frequent contact with family and a harmonious relationship with parents significantly enhanced happiness with ORs (95% CIs) 1.42 (1.17–1.71) and 2.32 (1.83–2.95), respectively. Thirdly, student happiness was associated with several social factors. Students who performed well academically, who went to sleep early, and who were in a loving relationship were found to be happier than those with poor academic performance, went to sleep late, and who were single, for which the ORs (95% CIs) were, respectively, 1.87 (1.51–2.32), 1.50 (1.24–1.81), and 1.32 (1.09–1.60). The survey identified several key personal, familial, and social factors influencing university student happiness, which can provide an effective measure to improve their happiness.

Keywords: college; happiness gene; mental health; suicide; teenagers; well-being; young people (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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