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Soc Indic Res (2011) 100:185207
DOI 10.1007/s11205-010-9632-5
Antonella Delle Fave Ingrid Brdar Teresa Freire
Dianne Vella-Brodrick Mari P. Wissing
Accepted: 19 April 2010 / Published online: 4 May 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Abstract This paper illustrates a new project developed by a cross-country team of researchers, with the aim of studying the hedonic and eudaimonic components of happiness through a mixed method approach combining both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Data were collected from 666 participants in Australia, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and South Africa. A major aim of the study was to examine denitions and experiences of happiness using open-ended questions. Among the components of well-being traditionally associated with the eudaimonic approach, meaning in particular was explored in terms of constituents, relevance, and subjective experience. The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was also administered to quantitatively assess the hedonic dimension of happiness. Results showed that happiness was primarily dened as a condition of psychological balance and harmony. Among the different life domains, family and social relations were prominently associated with happiness and meaningfulness. The quantitative analyses highlighted the relationship between happiness, meaningfulness, and satisfaction with life, as well as the different and complementary contributions of each component to well-being. At the theoretical and methodological levels, ndings suggest the importance of jointly investigating happiness and its relationship with other dimensions of well-being, in order to detect differences and synergies among them.
A. Delle Fave (&)
Universit degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy e-mail: [email protected]
I. Brdar
University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
T. Freire
University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
D. Vella-Brodrick
Monash University, Cauleld Campus, Cauleld East, VIC, Australia
M. P. Wissing
North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa
The Eudaimonic and Hedonic Components of Happiness: Qualitative and Quantitative Findings
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186 A. Delle Fave et al.
Keywords Happiness Meaning Satisfaction with life Life domains
Mixed-method approach
1 Introduction
Researchers in various disciplines have been increasingly involved in the investigation of one of the most complex and universally debated issues: the pursuit and achievement of the good life. Positive psychology was recently established as a new perspective specically addressing the study of well-being, quality of life, strengths and resources (Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi 2000). Within this framework new theories, constructs and interventions have been developed....