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Towards Youth Happiness and Mental Health in the United Arab Emirates: The Path of Character Strengths in a Multicultural Population

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  • Eleni Petkari

    (European University of Cyprus
    Middlesex University Dubai)

  • Margarita Ortiz-Tallo

    (University of Malaga)

Abstract

Happiness, good mental health and the possession of character strengths have been proposed in the context of positive psychology as important conditions for achieving a life full of gratification. However, there is a scarcity of studies examining those conditions in Eastern cultural contexts, in order to replicate findings from the Western countries. In this vein, the present study aims to explore the influence of strengths on happiness and mental health in the multicultural context of United Arab Emirates and it is hypothesised that certain strengths are better predictors of happiness and mental health than others, also after controlling for potential sociodemographic confounders. A sample of young university students, in the majority coming from eastern countries was assessed through the Global Happiness Scale, the GHQ-12 and the VIA-IS-120. The results of the regression analyses revealed that the group of character strengths under the denomination of Transcendence together with being young was associated with higher levels of happiness and better mental health. In addition, the possession of strengths of Restraint was associated with less happiness, whilst being a man indicated a better mental health. Such results have important implications regarding the replication of previous results from Western contexts in the context of UAE, highlighting the need for implementation of culturally context-tailored strategies for achieving happiness and mental health through the use of character strengths.

Suggested Citation

  • Eleni Petkari & Margarita Ortiz-Tallo, 2018. "Towards Youth Happiness and Mental Health in the United Arab Emirates: The Path of Character Strengths in a Multicultural Population," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 333-350, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:19:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10902-016-9820-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-016-9820-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tohar Dolev-Amit & Avinadav Rubin & Sigal Zilcha-Mano, 2021. "Is Awareness of Strengths Intervention Sufficient to Cultivate Wellbeing and Other Positive Outcomes?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 645-666, February.
    2. Nicole Casali & Tommaso Feraco & Marta Ghisi & Chiara Meneghetti, 2021. "“Andrà tutto bene”: Associations Between Character Strengths, Psychological Distress and Self-efficacy During Covid-19 Lockdown," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 2255-2274, June.
    3. Tommaso Feraco & Nicole Casali & Chiara Meneghetti & Samuel Greiff & Giorgia Cona, 2023. "Is Good Character All that Counts? A Comparison Between the Predictive Role of Specific Strengths and a General Factor of “Good Character” Using a Bifactor Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 2353-2376, October.
    4. M. Rezaul Islam, 2023. "Child health status in the United Arab Emirates: an in-depth exploration of current issues and challenges," Journal of Community Positive Practices, Catalactica NGO, issue 1, pages 36-49.
    5. Liang Zhao & Yukun Zhao & Yiwen Wu & Xiaojun Ding & Feng Yu & Kaiping Peng, 2022. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Chinese Positive Traits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-19, October.

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