چكيده لاتين :
Introduction
Happiness or well-being from the beginning has been one of the basic needs of mankind (Kaushik & Jaggi, 2011:39). The numerous attempts have been made to understand and definition of happiness (Dorling &Ballas, 2007: 1245). Based on this literature, the concept of happiness is mostly defined to frequent positive affect, high life satisfaction and infrequent negative affect defined (Argyle et al, 1989; Lyubomirsky et al, 2005:115). The findings of social science researchers have shown that happiness as one of the positive emotional have a major influence on health (Edwards & cooper, 1988; Young & Glasgow, 1998; Oman et al, 1999; Danner et al, 2001; Post, 2005; Chanfreau et al, 2008). Enhance the physical and mental flexibility (Post, 2005:66), Prepares people for a better life (Rabbani et al, 2007: 42), and protects the individual against the stress and problems (Khosh-konesh, 2008: 8). Therefore, health and followed by happiness and well-being of the society members is very important, but adolescent health because it provides the foundation for adult health status is more emphasized (Fine & Large, 2005: 7). Adolescence is a period of rapid development and change (Muyibi et al, 2010:1) in which the various aspects of mental health has been changing (Brooks et al, 2002:240), Reduced the well-being and happiness (Chanfreau et al, 2008: 51), is relatively low life satisfaction and experience the very up and down life (Headey & Wearing, 1992:17). Happy people are more inclined to act healthy and may be more likely to avoid unhealthy behaviors (Sabatini, 2011:2). Therefore, the promotion of happiness and well-being in adolescents can make to successful transition to adulthood (Chung & Philipps, 2010: 5) and guarantee them health. Considering the importance of happiness and well-being among adolescents, this study examines the social and psychological factors that affecting the happiness of high school students in Ahvaz. Studies conducted by Diener et al, Argyle, and De Neve & Cooper shows that self-esteem as one of the personality traits associated with happiness (Lyubomirsky et al,2006:366 ., Argyle, 2008: 242., Cheng & Furnham,2003: 922). According to the theory of social comparison, if people believe they are better off than those who compare themselves with them (downward social comparison), they feel satisfied, if they are worse off than similar others (upward social comparison), they feel dissatisfied and relative deprivation occurs (White et al, 2006:37). Relative deprivation as a result of comparison with other community members (Bernburg et al, 2009:1227), more likely to create the destructive behaviors and emotions that diminishing well-being (White et al, 2006:38).
Society provides a context in which community members can build and develop social ties (Bastani & Salehi-Hikoee, 2007., Ghodsi, 2004). Veenhoven states social relations, both primary ties in the private sphere of life and secondary relations in public life explain the observed variation in happiness (Veenhoven, 2001:21). Berk also says, strong affectional ties that establish with special people in our lives, leads us to feel pleasure and happy when we interact with them (Berk, 2006: 419). Research findings Putnam et al showed that people, who have more social relationships, are happier (Mirshahjafari et al, 2002:53). Trust is one good overall indicator for the quality of social relationships (Kroll, 2011:72). Without trust, people are loath to reach out (Helliwell & Wang, 2011:1). Trust between people reduces the complexity of social interactions and thus making for a safer, more predictable, and easier also probably a happier life (Kroll, 2011:72). Bourdieu and Putnam argue that confidence and trust are one of the most significant elements of social capital affecting life satisfaction and happiness (Firouzabadi et al, 2011: 158). Giddens also argues that trust is one of the factors that provide happiness (Chalabi & Musavi, 2009:38). According to Maslowʹs hierarchy of needs, need to security and safety is in second place of the necessary needs. Need to security if it does not receive a positive response, causing anxiety and stress in individuals (Garossi et al, 2008:33). Veenhoven says that safety and happiness are related (Veenhoven, 2001:17). Giddens believes that insecurity is one factors that threatening the happiness (Musavi, 2009:116). Myers research results have shown that people who are happy feel more secure (NeshatDoost et al, 2009: 107).
According to what was said, the aim of the present study is investigate the influence of social (including social networks, social trust, and Feeling of insecurity) and psychological factors (including self-esteem and relative deprivation) on adolescent happiness in Ahwaz.
Material & Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010-2011 year. The 370 girls and boys participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling from all high schools in Ahvaz. The data were collected by questionnaire.
Happiness was measured by the oxford happiness inventory (OHI). This questionnaire is composed of 29 items, with each item having a five-point Likert answer scale ranging from totally disagree (1) to totally agree (5). The reliability and validity of the OHI were confirmed in other studies (Argyle et al, 1989؛ Furnham& Brewing, 1990 ؛ Noor, 1993؛ Francis et al, 1998). Reliability and validity of the Farsi version of this questionnaire (OHI) has been evaluated and approved (Ali-poor & Noor-bala, 1999؛ Ali-poor et al, 2000). The cronbachʹs alpha score of OHI was 0.806 in the present Study.
Self-esteem was measured by the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES). This scale is composed of 10 items. The reliability and validity of the RSES were confirmed in other studies (pullmann & allik, 2000; greenberger et al, 2003). Reliability and validity of the Farsi version of this scale (RSES) has been evaluated and approved (Mohammadi, 2005; Rajabi & Bohlul, 2008). The cronbachʹs alpha score of RSES was 0.721 in the present Study.
Relative Deprivation was measured by the callan et al (2008) personal relative deprivation scale. The reliability and validity of the PRDS were confirmed in other studies (callan et al, 2011). Reliability and validity of the Farsi version of this scale (PRDS) has been evaluated and approved (Heydari, 2010; Hojabrian, 2012). The cronbachʹs alpha score of OHI was 0.785 in the present Study.
Social Networks was measured by the lubben et al (2006) social network Scale (LSNS-6). This scale is composed of 6 items. The reliability and validity of the LSNS-6 were confirmed in other studies (hong et al, 2011؛kurimoto et al, 2011). The cronbachʹs alpha score of LSNS-6 was 0.682 in the present Study.
Social Trust was measured by the Khoshfar social trust scale. This scale is composed of 5 items. The cronbachʹs alpha score of social trust scale was 0.631 in the present Study.
Feeling of insecurity was measured by the Cops & Pleysier (2011) fear of crime scale. This scale is composed of 8 items. The cronbachʹs alpha score of fear of crime scale was 0.767 in the present Study. Data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regressions.
The mean of age of the participant was 35 (SD = 8.5) years, 68.3% girl and 31.7% boy. Descriptive statistics of study variables were presented in Table 1. The mean of happiness was 99 (SD = 13.62). Correlations between happiness and independent variables were shown in Table 2. As shown in Table 2, happiness was significantly positively correlated with social networks (r = 0.236, P < 0.01), social trust (r = 0.17, P < 0.01), self-esteem (r = 0.546, P < 0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with Feeling of insecurity (r = - 0.114, P < 0.01), relative deprivation (r = - 0.478, P < 0.01).
The stepwise multiple regressions were conducted to determine which of the five independent variables (social networks, social trust, Feeling of insecurity, self-esteem and relative deprivation) were significant predictors of happiness. Regression results indicated an overall model with four (Self-esteem, Relative Deprivation, Social Trust and Social Networks) of the five variables as significantly contributing to the final model. Feeling of insecurity was non-significant predictors. The final regression model is summarized in Table 3. Coefficients between each predictor and the dependent variable are provided in Table 4.
Discussion of Results & Conclusions
This study examined the influence of social (including social networks, social trust, and Feeling of insecurity) and psychological factors (including self-esteem and relative deprivation) on adolescent happiness in Ahwaz. The findings revealed that correlation between all independent variables with happiness as dependent variable was confirmed. According to results social networks significantly positively correlated with happiness. This result is consistent with the Veenhoven, Berk and Putnam views. The results also showed direct correlation between social trust and happiness. This result is consistent with the Giddens, Bourdieu and Putnamʹs view. It was found significant positive correlation between self-esteem and happiness. This finding is consistent with research results Diener et al, Argyle, and De Neve & Cooper. In addition, these results show feeling of insecurity and relative deprivation significantly negatively correlated with happiness. This mean that is with reduce feeling of insecurity and relative deprivation among students, their happiness increases. These findings are also consistent with the views Giddens, Veenhoven and White et al. The results of stepwise multiple regressions showed that self-esteem, relative deprivation, social trust and social networks were significant predictors of happiness and feeling of insecurity was non-significant predictor. The coefficient of self-esteem in explaining of happiness is higher of the other variables. This finding suggests that self-worth and self-esteem have a significant impact on studentsʹ happiness, so is necessary to pay special attention to it. In sum, Self-esteem, Relative Deprivation, Social Trust and Social Networks as significant predictors explaining approximately 40 % of the total variance of Happiness scores of the students.
Keywords: Happiness, Social Networks, Relative Deprivation, Self-Esteem, Social Trust.
