While human “wellbeing” has historically been measured by economic growth, traditional metrics do not fit the challenges of the 21st century. Increasingly, decision-makers are adopting new guiding frameworks that encompass a more holistic understanding of wellbeing and progress including concepts such as ecological health and subjective wellbeing. Yet, the development processes and implementation challenges faced by these initiatives - as well as the opportunities for advancement - remain relatively unexamined for state and regional communities. This research considers the implementation and potential of existing wellbeing indicator systems in Vermont. With limited research on wellbeing measurement at the state or local level, this thesis provides novel insight using the state of Vermont as a case study. A better understanding of specific measurement tools, public and political interest in data collection, and shared experiences can help to fill the current gap in the literature and provide useful information for decision-makers. The first article contains a case study analysis of four wellbeing indices at the regional and state level in Vermont: the Vermont Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), the Vermont Happiness Index, the Chittenden County Environment, Community, Opportunity and Sustainability (ECOS) project, and Vermont Act 186 (the “Outcomes Bill”). The case studies provide contextual background describing the impetus and development of each wellbeing initiative. The similarities, differences, and connections between each case study are further examined based on a general program theory of wellbeing measurement. The second article narrows in on one specific wellbeing index: the 2017 Vermont Happiness Index, a representative statewide survey of subjective wellbeing. The Index is composed of eleven domains of wellbeing, with each domain as an aggregation of 3 or more Likert-scale questions. The survey results are analyzed through statistical testing and recommendations for future research are provided.

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo estudiar la comparación existente entre felicidad según locus de control interno y externo en adolescentes miembros de comunidades católicas en Lima Metropolitana. El estudio es de tipo comparativo y de corte transversal, con un diseño no experimental, en el que participaron 149 adolescentes entre 18 y 25 años, de los cuales el 56.6% son mujeres y el 43.4% son hombres. Para cumplir el objetivo se aplicó “Escala de locus de control Interno-Externo (E-I-E) de Rotter" (1966) validada por Porras (2017) y la “Escala de Felicidad de Lima” de Alarcón (2006). Además, existen diferencias significativas y pequeñas en satisfacción con la vida (r=.29, p < .01) y realización personal (r=.32, p < .01) respecto al locus de control externo. Además, existen diferencias significativas y a la vez pequeñas en la dimensión satisfacción con la vida según el sexo. Asimismo, existen diferencias entre la dimensión realización personal y motivo de ingreso a la comunidad. Finalmente, los resultados obtenidos, ayudarán a los líderes católicos a implementar metodologías con el objetivo de desarrollar la autonomía del adolescente, contribuyendo así al cumplimiento de objetivos que presenta la comunidad. / The present investigation have has objective to study the comparison between happiness according to locus of internal and external control in adolescents members of Catholic communities in Metropolitan Lima. The study is of a comparative type with a non-experimental design, involving 149 adolescents between 18 and 25 years old, of which 56.6% are women and 43.4% are men. To fulfill the objective, "Internal Locus of Control of External Control (E-I-E) of Rotter" (1966) validated by Porras (2017) and the "Lima Happiness Scale" of Alarcón (2006) was used. Were found that there are significant and small differences in life satisfaction (r = .29, p <.01) and personal achievement (r = .32, p <.01) with respect to the external control locus. In addition, there are significant and small differences in the satisfaction dimension with life according to sex. Also, it was found that there are differences between the dimension of personal fulfillment and the reason for entering the community. Finally, the results obtained will help Catholic leaders to implement methodologies with the objective of developing the adolescent's autonomy, thus contributing to the fulfillment of the objectives presented by the community. / Tesis

Remarriage has gained special attention in the past couple of decades from clinicians, researchers, and educators because of the unique issues faced by individuals entering such a relationship. Recognition of these issues increased marriage practitioners' hope that a shift in the social climate had led individuals to prepare for remarriage through various means. This study sought to, one, gain a current perspective on remarriage preparation; two, learn how individuals rate the helpfulness of preparation; and three, note any differences in remarital quality (remarital satisfaction and adjustment) and perceptions of preparedness between individuals who did or did not participate in preparation. Data were analyzed from the Utah Newlywed Study. Results showed that most individuals prepared by talking to others or read ing written information, and most individuals who participated in some form of preparation found it helpful. Despite a high number of participants who reported remarriage preparation as helpful, nonparticipants were more plentiful than participants. The majority of those who did not participate reported preparation as unnecessary. Remari tal quality varied based on the preparation form considered. Based on the resu lts, it was suggested that marriage practitioners should do more to increase individuals' views that preparation is valuable, as those who participated generally found it to be helpful.

Marital roles have become a subject of major concern in recent years. Many critiques consider traditional marriage roles to be responsible for hindering appropriate social-emotional development of the wife, in particular, and also the husband. Past research in assessing the relationship between marital roles and the happiness and well-being of husbands and wives is limited in quantity and generally is inconclusive or controversial. This study was designed to clarify the relationship between marriage roles and two dependent variables, marital happiness and self concept. The sample population consisted of 124 volunteer couples selected from the teaching staffs of eight school districts in Southeastern Idaho and Northern Utah. Each participant provided information for this study by completing a questionnaire, the Tennessee Self Concept Scale, the Marriage Adjustment Scale, and the Marriage Role Expectation Inventory. Forty-three variables were generated from these measures which, when factor analyzed produced 12 factors for husbands and 10 factors for wives, served as dependent and independent variables for this study. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to identify relationships between dependent variables (self concept and marital happiness of husbands and wives) and independent variables {i.e., level of education; hours spent as an employee, religious volunteer, and in community service; freedom to choose present role; income level). Husbands and wives were assessed independent of each other. None of the independent variables explained a significant amount of the variance on marital happiness or self concept neither when considered alone nor when stepped together in the multiple regression model. Thus, no significant relationship was determined between marital roles and marital happiness or self concept. Recommendations were made for studying more diversified populations and for controlling sample bias resulting from the use of volunteers.

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Gender and wedding type preference affect views of those who get married in a courthouse as opposed to a church. The participants for this study consisted of 198 unmarried, undergraduate students that planned to marry someday. Participants responded to a wedding location scenario then completed a wedding type preference questionnaire, the Life Orientation Test Revised, and a demographics questionnaire. Results revealed that group 1 (participants who were high on traditional wedding preference and received the scenario of courthouse wedding ceremony), rated the hypothetical couple as having a higher chance of being happy after 25 years of marriage and being more in love than group 2 (high traditional and church scenario), group 3 (low traditional and courthouse scenario), and group 4 (low traditional and church scenario). For participants whose parents were divorced, the age of the participant when their parents divorced was a significant predictor of predicted happiness and length of marriage.

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As one of the most important emotional goals pertaining to humankind, achieving happiness has been the central focus of scientists, philosophers, and the general population alike since the beginning of recorded history. This study strove to examine the association of body image satisfaction and relationship quality as it relates to happiness. Four hundred college-age participants completed the Subjective Happiness Scale, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (Appearance Scales), and the Network of Relationships Inventory (Relationships Quality Version) for close friendships of the same-sex and opposite-sex. Statistical analysis indicated that while body image satisfaction was significantly correlated with happiness, quality of interpersonal relationships was not. The results of this study emphasize the importance of one’s satisfaction with one’s body in the cultivation and maintenance of subjective well-being and the need to examine other potential predictors of happiness.