Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Bronwyn S. Fees / Research has determined three main pathways or orientations to happiness: Meaning, Pleasure, and Engagement (Peterson, Park, & Seligman, 2005). Each has shown to have a substantial impact on an individual's satisfaction with life. These orientations to happiness and their impact on life satisfaction were investigated among 342 emerging adults between the ages of 18-25 attending college. Linear multiple regression was conducted to assess the relationship between Life satisfaction and the three orientations of happiness after identifying the variance explained by demographics factors and personality traits. Results indicated first that each orientation to happiness was empirically distinguishable and related among the emerging adult population. Secondly, both Meaning and Pleasure were significant predictors of Life Satisfaction beyond the variance explained by personality; however, Engagement was not. Congruent with previous personality studies (Lykken & Tellegen, 1996; Lynn & Steel, 2006), life satisfaction was positively correlated with extraversion and negatively correlated with neuroticism. These findings indicate a need to understand how happiness and life satisfaction are filtered through a cultural, developmental, and academic lens. Further studies are necessary to determine the attitudes and behaviors in other countries, other life stages, and emerging adults not attending college.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Stoic philosophy taught along with the other prominent philosophical schools of the Hellenistic Era (i.e. the Academics, the Peripatetics and the Epicureans) that the goal or final end (telos) of human existence is our well-being or happiness (eudaimonia). The Stoics provided various definitions of this telos, the most famous being “living in agreement with nature” (ηὸ ὁκνινγνπκέλσο ηῇ θύζεη δῆλ) or “living according to nature” (secundum naturam vivere) and this goal essentially comes down to living according to perfect reason and virtue. The purpose of this study is to investigate how Seneca presents the Stoic doctrines regarding this topic in his Epistulae Morales (“Letters on Morality”) and to determine whether he managed to make the theoretical framework, proposed by the Stoics for the attainment of a happy life, more easily applicable in practice without compromising orthodox Stoic teachings. The orthodoxy of Seneca‟s philosophy may be judged by comparison with the doctrines of the early Stoic teachers, which is why this study will first look at the traditional Stoic teachings concerning the definition of the telos as well as the theory behind the attainment thereof. Thereafter it will be investigated how true Seneca stayed to these traditional teachings and whether he managed to make the Stoic telos more realistically attainable by the practical advice he offers in his letters. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Stoïsynse filosofie voer aan soos die ander prominente filosofiese skole van die Hellenistiese era (d.w.s. die Akademie, die Peripatetiese skool, en die Epikureërs) dat die einddoel (telos) van die mensdom welsyn of geluk (eudaimonia) is. Die Stoïsyne het verskillende definisies van die telos verskaf; die mees bekende is “om in ooreenkoms met die natuur te leef” (ηὸ ὁκνινγνπκέλσο ηῇ θύζεη δῆλ) of “om volgens die natuur te leef” (secundum naturam vivere) en hierdie einddoel kom in wese daarop neer om volgens volmaakte rede of deug te leef. Die doel van hierdie studie is om te ondersoek hoe Seneca die Stoïsynse leerstellings oor hierdie onderwerp in sy Epistulae Morales (“Briewe oor Moraliteit”) behandel en om te bepaal of hy dit makliker gemaak het om die teoretiese raamwerk, wat deur die Stoïsyne vir die bereiking van 'n gelukkige lewe voorgestel is, in die praktyk toe te pas sonder om die ortodokse Stoïsynse leerstellings te kompromitteer. Die ortodoksie van Seneca se filosofie kan beoordeel word deur dit met die leerstellings van die vroeë Stoïsyne te vergelyk. Hierdie studie begin dus met „n ondersoek na die tradisionele Stoïsynse leerstellings aangaande die definisie van die telos, sowel as die teorie oor die bereiking daarvan. Daarna word ondersoek hoe getrou Seneca was aan die tradisionele leerstellings en of hy deur die praktiese raad in sy briewe dit makliker gemaak het om die Stoïsynse telos te bereik.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Flourishing employees are happier, more creative, better at problem solving, take less sick days and stay at companies for longer. Considering all the successful business outcomes if employees are flourishing, management should actively measure and promote subjective well-being. This research explored the concept of happiness and the features of subjective well-being. It further measured the levels of subjective well-being and compared this with staff turnover and sick leave at a law firm in Johannesburg. The research found a strong link between high levels of well-being, considered as flourishing, and productivity. The results also revealed a strong inverse relationship between flourishing and loneliness, validating the adage that we are social creatures. Lastly, the research found that healthy employees consider themselves happier than unhealthy employees do.

An organisation’s survival is dependent on the support of a number of stakeholders. However, professional service firms tend to lose the support of their most important stakeholders, which are their well-educated employees, also referred to as their ‘talents’. This study has used Harrison and Wicks’ (2013) framework of stakeholder value creation as its point of departure, which consists of four value aspects: goods and services, organisational justice, organisational affiliation, and opportunity cost. The framework states that managerial actions, related to these four aspects, are likely to create value for stakeholders by increasing their happiness. “Happy” stakeholders are further considered to keep supporting their organisation, which generated the principal research question of this study: How can professional service firms increase the happiness of their talents? Moreover, the study was limited to neo and classic-professional service firms, which include: consultancy, advertising, accountancy, architecture, and law firms. In order to explore what managerial actions increase talents’ happiness, a case study was conducted at a British law firm. Nine solicitors of three different levels of seniority were interviewed and the firm was observed for two days. This study not only confirms the validity of Harrison and Wicks’ (2013) framework but also extends it by identifying additional managerial actions, categories for analysing ‘talent happiness’ as well as a fifth value aspect: ‘job characteristics’. In a broader perspective, this study contributes to stakeholder theory by providing an empirical and micro-level illustration of the theory.

Kan lycka köpas för pengar? Prosocialt spenderande och lycka är ett nytt ämne inom forskning och har ännu inte studerats i Sverige. Föreliggande studie syftar till att utreda om prosocialt spenderande bidrar till en ökad grad av upplevd lycka hos studenter vilket tidigare forskning stödjer samt om det föreligger könsskillnader gällande prosocialt spenderande och upplevd lycka vilket inte forskningen stödjer inom området. Etthundratre personal- och arbetslivsstuderande varav 72 kvinnor och 31 män vid ett medelstort universitet i södra Sverige deltog. Ett randomiserat post-test-only experiment utfördes varav 51 deltagare utgjorde experimentgrupp och genomförde en intervention som innebar att de skänkte pengar till välgörenhet och 52 deltagare genomförde ett kognitivt test som kontrolluppgift. Efteråt uppmättes deltagarnas upplevda lycka med Subjective Happiness Scale. Statistisk prövning med tvåvägs-ANOVA visade ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad mellan experiment och kontrollgrupp gällande upplevd lycka, vidare fanns inga skillnader mellan könen gällande upplevd lycka och prosocialt spenderande. Studiens resultat stöds inte av tidigare forskning. Studiens diskussion föreslår att vidare forskning inom området fokuserar på design och metodval. Storleken på summan som spenderas prosocialt påverkar troligen effekten gällande lycka i större utsträckning än vad som antagits. En undre gräns för att gynna lycka diskuteras. Relation till den som individen spenderar prosocialt på diskuteras och tros också påverka upplevd lycka. / Can happiness be bought with money? Prosocial spending and happiness is a new field within science and has yet to be studied in Sweden. The present study aims to investigate whether prosocial spending contributes to an increased level of happiness amongst students which previous research supports and also whether sexdifferences within prosocial spending and percieved happiness exists which current research does not support. One-hundred and three undergraduates of whom 72 were women and 31 men within a human resource and management-program participated, all studying at a medium-sized university in southern Sweden. A randomized post-test-only experiment was conducted in which 51 participants carried out a task where they were instructed to donate money to charity (experimental group) and 52 participants were instructed to complete a cognitive task (control group). Subsequently the participants levels of happiness were measured using the Subjective Happiness Scale. Statistical testing using a two-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups regarding happiness, furthermore there were no sex differences regarding happiness and prosocial spending. The results of the present study are contradictory with previous research. The discussion of the present study suggests emphasis on method and design for further studies within the area. The amount of money spent prosocially is likely to have a greater impact on happiness than the present study presumed. A lower limit to promote happiness is discussed. Furthermore the relation between the individual who is prosocially spending and the recipient is discussed and is likely to have an impact on perceived happiness.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed in healthy older adults between two psychological and physiological variables. The conceptual framework suggested that a relationship of psychological and physiological functions would facilitate positive adjustment to the stressors of aging. Life satisfaction represented psychological functioning; body temperature represented physiological functioning; body temperature represented physiological functioning. Because some evidence exists that normal temperature for older adults is lower than 98.6°F, an additional purpose was to determine if the sample had a normal body temperature lower than 98.6°F. Subjects were 174 healthy Caucasians aged 60-97. None were taking antibiotic, phenotiazine, cortisone, or reserpine containing drugs. Life satisfaction was measured using Neugarten's Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA); body temperature was measured with an IVAC 821 oral electronic thermometer. Subjects rated perceived health on the Health Status Scale (HSS), and enumerated the past year's stressful life events on a modification of Holmes and Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire (SRRQ). Data were collected in winter and summer to determine if body temperature was different based on season. Statistical significance was p = .05. An ANOVA revealed no significant differences between winter and summer groups. The Pearson product-moment revealed no correlation between LSIA and TEMP. LSIA was significantly correlated with HSS and AGE; that is, subjects who were more satisfied with their lives considered themselves healthier, and were younger than other subjects. TEMP was significantly related only to SEX, indicating that females had higher temperatures than males. The mean temperature for all subjects, 98.24°F, was statistically different from 98.6°F, as were winter (98.32°F) and summer (98.17°F) group means. No difference was found between winter and summer mean temperatures, indicating that season of the year did not affect body temperatures in this sample. It was concluded that no psychophysiological relationship was found because body temperature may index only illness, not health. The mean temperature was not clinically different from 98.6°F most likely because these subjects were not taking drugs known to affect body temperature. A recommendation was that nurses evaluate each older client's temperature against his own normal, versus a universal normal.

One of the great challenges for positive psychology is that academics, researchers and authors are yet to reach agreement on the terminology, constructs and methodology of the various positive psychological concepts and interventions. One such concept that has been ambiguously and often inconsistently conceptualised is happiness. Interventions that are structured around these conceptualisations have produced mixed results, which are attributable to various aspects such as the unidimensional conceptualisation of the concept, inconsistent measurement, psychometric measuring instruments that have not been validated for the population in question, and fragmented intervention methodologies. Research was, therefore, needed regarding happiness and the development of interventions aimed at increasing happiness. Therefore, this thesis aimed to investigate the concept, manifestation, measurement and development of happiness and positive psychological interventions (PPIs) within a tertiary educational environment. A mixed method research approach was followed to reach the research objectives. The first study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of positive psychological assessment measures, and to determine the relationship between flourishing and academic performance within a tertiary educational institution. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used to address this objective. The Mental Health Continuum Long Form, Positive and Negative Affect Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale were administered and indicated acceptable levels of internal consistency. The MHC-LF would need to be adapted for future studies within the tertiary educational environment. No significant correlations could be established between academic performance and flourishing. However, cross-tabulation indicated some evidence of the impact that flourishing/languishing had on academic performance. Individuals with moderate levels of flourishing typically performed in the „above average‟ to „excelling academically‟ range. Languishing individuals performed at the lower levels of the academic performance spectrum. The results indicated that a large number of individuals within this tertiary educational environment were languishing. Flourishing students experienced higher levels of positive affect and satisfaction with life, as well as lower levels of negative affect than their languishing and moderately flourishing counterparts. The second study aimed to investigate the main streams of research on happiness, the approaches/models flowing from these philosophies and the methodology of happiness interventions. A quantitative meta-analysis of the literature was used to address the aforementioned research objective. Seeing that the literature presents with such incongruent findings regarding the effectiveness of PPIs, research was needed to establish how happiness should be conceptualised, which moderating factors should be addressed in this conceptualisation, and what the content of PPIs should be. A qualitative meta-analysis of the literature indicated that happiness is approached from either a hedonic, eudaimonic or integrated approach. These philosophies gave birth to a stream of scientific literature regarding happiness and its various conceptualisations, namely (a) Subjective well-being; (b) Hedonic well-being; (c) Eudaimonic well-being; (d) Psychological well-being; (e) Flourishing, and (f) Authentic happiness. Furthermore, the results highlighted three causes for failing interventions: (a) unidimensional models/approaches towards happiness, (b) targeting the concept of happiness instead of the mediating factors; and (c) fragmented methodological interventions. The study suggested a multidimensional model for happiness and happiness interventions. Furthermore, the study proposed a multifaceted methodology for happiness interventions, comprising self-administered intentional activities, group-administered interventions and individual coaching. The third study aimed to evaluate a PPI aimed at increasing happiness of students in a tertiary educational institution. A longitudinal pre-experimental research design was used to address the aforementioned research objective. Qualitative data were used to explore the findings further. The results indicated that the overall happiness of a student may be increased through developing individuals on both an emotional and psychological level. The results showed some scientific merit to a multifaceted approach towards PPIs. The PPI affected all the aspects conceptualised in this study except for two components of authenticity, namely authentic behaviour and relational orientations. / PhD, Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

Through understanding the way in which design can contribute in a holistic way to sustainability, this thesis investigates and proposes the design methods, and characteristics of sustainable products, services or systems capable of contributing to our happiness, hence shaping and promoting society towards sustainable lifestyles. It presents the first indications of the relationship between Happiness and Sustainable Design. The review of a vast array of phenomena (Happiness, Sustainable Lifestyles/Society, Sustainable Product Design, Consumption Behaviour, and the emerging Role of the Designer), shed light on this relationship, as well as making evident the social gap that represents within sustainable design. This led to the development of an Initial Theory to bridge this gap, which then proposed the development of new design theories and tools and also a radical evolution of the design discipline. Preliminary Testing with sustainable design thinkers validated this theory and pointed out other interesting avenues in order to develop and test it further. Subsequently, through an exploratory and iterative approach, with the Initial Theory at the heart of the research, the Design for Happiness workshop framework emerged and took shape. Two pilot studies and a first study facilitated its planning, development and implementation, which ultimately led to a strong Design Process and Tool-Kit. In addition, two Main Studies confirmed its effectiveness and put forward a robust conceptual design outcome; the trials of which demonstrated its success and high potential to contribute to Happiness and Sustainable Lifestyles. Overall, the results and findings of this research demonstrated that material changes can take place without having to do without social networks which feed our happiness. The Design for Happiness workshop framework is a practical proposal that encourages multidisciplinary groups to reinterpret the relationship between objects and users, hence approaching design from a different perspective that results in innovative conceptual designs. Here, the designer becomes a process facilitator who shares design tools, encouraging participation in the construction of collective and integrated design visions and scenarios. Creativity and Sustainability are pivotal pillars of this proposal and its success is anchored in its capacity to deliver a collection of experiences that contribute to happiness through the way in which they require people to live in general. It also challenges the evolution of the Design discipline and its consequential theoretical development. The relationship between Design, Sustainability and Happiness is new territory. This research is the first on the subject of Sustainable Design and Happiness, therefore offering a groundbreaking opportunity for design, designers, and its practical applications.

This study examines the relationship between voluntary associations and the psychological well-being of older people through path analysis. The goals of the study were: (1) to ascertain whether differential research findings are due to measurement artifact, (2) to evaluate the assertions of traditional activity theory versus those of a modified activity theory taking quality into account, and (3) to isolate factors which contribute to and/or mediate the relationship of voluntary-association participation and psychological well-being. Analysis was conducted at two levels. First, a model was developed to study individual participation in voluntary associations, satisfaction with participation, and well-being. Second, a model was developed to examine types of volimtary associations and their effects on satisfaction with participation and on well-being. Subjects were 50 members of voluntary associations who were recruited from target groups in the Durham, North Carolina area. There were 26 males and 24 females. They ranged in age from 61 to 90. The results of the individual path analysis indicate that differential findings due to measurement artifact is likely. After controlling for the effects of health, education, income, and social desirability bias in the model, voluntary-association activity as measured by the Chapin scale was significantly correlated with psychological well-being as measured by the Bradburn scale; however, measurement of volantary-association activity by an average number of meetings measure was not correlated significantly with any measure of well-being. In addition, the Chapin measure did not correlate significantly with the LSI-Z or with the Cantril Ladder. The examination of traditional activity theory versus modified activity theory was somewhat inconclusive, although the results did suggest that mere participation may have effects on psychological well-being that are equal to or greater than the effects of satisfaction with participation. The results of the voluntary association path analysis indicate that their characteristics have consequences both for satisfaction with voluntary associations and for psychological well-being. People who belonged to larger groups were significantly more satisfied with those groups and also were significantly happier. Also, even though people who belonged to age-graded groups were slightly more satisfied with these groups, they were significantly less happy. In addition, people who belonged to church-related groups were slightly more satisfied with these groups, but were significantly less happy. Finally, people who belonged to instrumental groups were slightly less satisfied with these groups than with more expressive groups and were slightly less happy. Discussion focused on possible explanations for the findings. It was suggested that a "happiness" measure seems more sensitive to effects such as those of voluntary-association activity. As for satisfaction with voluntary associations, it was acknowledged that the mere fact that respondents are taking an active part in life may be a key factor to their well-being. As explanations for the findings related to size of voluntary associations, it was suggested that large group activity may be less emotionally demanding and/or may allow contact with more potential friends. For age-graded groups, it was suggested that many older people may maintain a view of themselves as "younger" as the result of non-age-graded activities. For church- related groups, it was suggested that prior findings are due to the relationship between religiosity and well-being rather than characteristics of such groups. Finally, for the instrumental-expressive variable, it was suggested that older people such as in this sample may not value "feeling useful" as much as has been thought. Suggestions for future research included alternative methods of measuring association satisfaction, longitudinal analysis with representative sampling, and further investigation of voluntary-association characteristics. / This thesis was digitized as part of a project begun in 2014 to increase the number of Duke psychology theses available online. The digitization project was spearheaded by Ciara Healy.

Although economic growth has brought significant improvements in the standard of living in the UK over recent decades, there are still individuals living in poverty. Furthermore poverty in the UK is expected to rise. Although monetary poverty has wide ranging impacts such as poor health, low educational attainment and employability and reduced life expectancy, it does not (in the form of a poverty line at 60% of the median equivalised household income) appear to have an impact on wellbeing when the threshold was tested. Instead, multidimensional poverty – that purported by the Capabilities Approach – is a more individually relevant measure of poverty. Using a list, developed by Nussbaum, of core capabilities seen as essential for human life, capability measures were taken from the British Household Panel Survey. In analysis, some are found to be significant determinants of wellbeing, individually and in sum. Furthermore, individuals within the dataset experience loss aversion to capabilities. This thesis concludes that poverty measurement should be meaningful at the individual level, and to that aim, the Capabilities Approach provides a richer and more relevant evaluation of what poverty really means.