engleski

Happy youth in Croatia?

Previous study of relationship between adolescents' positive and negative affective experiences and happiness in Eastern Croatia showed that even the "most happy" adolescents have lower positivity ratio compared to the values stated in literature as characteristic for optimal functioning. In order to explore possible explanations for this findings, purpose of this study was to investigate some factors for which, on the basis of literature review, is expected to be related with happiness ratings. In literature that reviews possible ways of increasing happiness (Ljubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005), the main highlighted determinants of the chronic happiness level are: set point, life circumstances and intentional activity. According to matching hypothesis, positive effects of goal attainment on well being are moderated by goal person fit. This fit might be conceptualised in variety of ways, like person values, signature strengths, hedonic profiles or other individual difference-characteristics. This study is based on self-determination theory approach in which certain kinds of experiences are likely to be beneficial to anyone because they reflect universal psychological needs, namely - belongingness self-efficacy and autonomy. Aim of this study was to determine level of happiness, positive and negative affect and satisfaction of basic psychological needs of students from two different Croatian regions. Participants were a group of students in Osijek and Rijeka. We used Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS ; Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999), PANAS (Watson, Clark & Tellegen, 1988) and Basic Psychological Needs Scale (Ryan & Deci, 2000). We compared average levels of happiness of students in different regions. On the basis SHS scores we divided group of students in every region to "happy" and "unhappy" students and then compared their positivity ratio, as well as degree of basic psychological needs satisfaction. Findings of this study serve as a basis for discussion about needed and possible happiness- increasing strategies in youth population.

affect; happiness; critical positivity ratio; matching hypothesis; self-determination theory

nije evidentirano