Physical and psychological factors affecting the sense of happiness according to the gender of adolescents Kwon Myoung-Jin1, Ahn Sung-Yun2,* 1Dept. of Nursing, Daejeon University, Korea 2Dept. of Nursing Science, Pai Chai University, Korea *Corresponding author: Sung-Yun Ahn Professor, Dept. of Nursing, Pai Chai University, Korea Email: syahn@pcu.ac.kr
Online published on 16 October, 2018. Abstract Background/Objectives The purpose of the present study was to provide basic data to promote the happiness in adolescents by identifying physical and psychological variables that affect happiness based upon the gender. Methods/Statistical Analysis The subjects of the present study were 204, 756 adolescents who had participated in the 2014–2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Real numbers and weighted percentages were used for the levels of physical and psychological factors in male and female adolescents. Comparisons between the male and female groups were conducted using a t-test. Linear regression analysis was used for the factors affecting the happiness of the male and female adolescents. Findings Both male and female adolescents felt the sense of happiness when the number of physically active days was high, and when they were sufficiently recovered from fatigue by sleep. For weight control efforts, the sense of happiness was higher when maintenance efforts were made, than when no effort was made. The sense of happiness was high when the BMI was 25 or higher compared to a BMI less than 25. The sense of happiness was higher for those who did not smoke and drink than those who did, and the subjects felt unhappy when they felt more stress. The subjects felt a higher sense of happiness when subjective health status was higher. Subjective body image was different between male and female subjects in that a higher sense of happiness was found in male adolescents who answered “very overweight” than those who answered “normal” or “overweight, ” while female adolescents showed a higher sense of happiness when they were thinner. Improvements/Applications Variables affecting the happiness of adolescents were identified through the present study. The results can be usefully provided as basic data for the development of happiness promotion programs for adolescents. Top Keywords Happiness, Adolescents, youth health behaviors, physical factors, Psychological factors. Top |