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What Types of Happiness Do Korean Adults Pursue?—Comparison of Seven Happiness Types

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  • Young Yim Doh

    (Graduate School of Culture Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea)

  • Ji-Bum Chung

    (School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Korea)

Abstract

Although Korea has achieved successful economic, social, cultural, and technological development over the past decades, Korean people do not seem to be particularly happy. To enhance an individual’s happiness, we need to be aware of what situations and environmental conditions are conducive for happiness and explore the values of happiness we pursue. This study investigated the types of happiness expressed by Korean people using a mixed-method approach. Personal in-depth ( n = 15) and focus group ( n = 16) interviews were conducted with people who reported feeling a high level of happiness. Happiness categorization was conducted using Q methodology ( n = 63). Subsequently, we surveyed 999 nationally representative samples of Korean adults to generalize the results of the Q analysis. The findings revealed seven types of adult happiness in Korea: (1) Self-actualization, (2) Belongingness, (3) Mission, (4) Social recognition, (5) Enjoyment, (6) Material success, and (7) Parenting. The combined results of the qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that in Korea, people pursuing money or social success feel the unhappiest, whereas people pursuing a mission or sense of belonging feel the happiest. In conclusion, we discussed the need for happiness literacy education, to provide each adult an opportunity to understand the type of happiness they pursue.

Suggested Citation

  • Young Yim Doh & Ji-Bum Chung, 2020. "What Types of Happiness Do Korean Adults Pursue?—Comparison of Seven Happiness Types," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:5:p:1502-:d:325279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Myoung Kim & Hye Kim & Kyeong Cha & Jeeyoung Lim, 2007. "What Makes Koreans Happy?: Exploration on the Structure of Happy Life among Korean Adults," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 82(2), pages 265-286, June.
    2. Rohrer, Julia M. & Richter, David & Brümmer, Martin & Wagner, Gert G. & Schmukle, Stefan C., 2018. "Successfully Striving for Happiness: Socially Engaged Pursuits Predict Increases in Life Satisfaction," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 29(8), pages 1291-1298.
    3. Easterlin, Richard A., 2003. "Building a Better Theory of Well-Being," IZA Discussion Papers 742, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Gasper, Des, 2010. "Understanding the diversity of conceptions of well-being and quality of life," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 351-360, June.
    5. Michael Busseri & Stanley Sadava & Danielle Molnar & Nancy DeCourville, 2009. "A Person-Centered Approach to Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 161-181, April.
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