An Analysis on Factors Influencing Happiness in Young Children
AUTHOR : 허민지,김진욱
INFORMATION : page. 155~173 / 2017 Vol.24 No.3
ABSTRACT
This study aims to investigate happiness in 4 and 5 years old children and the relative effects of various
factors including the personal factor (ego-resiliency), the family relation factor (family strength), and early
childcare factor (facility adjustment to early childhood institution). Participants were 154 children ages 4
and 5 who attend childcare centers as well as their mothers and the 19 teachers in charge of them.
Using SPSS 21.0 package, we conducted frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation
analysis, and multiple regression analysis to explore the questions raised in this study. Results demonstrated
significant positive correlations between ego-resiliency, family strength, adjustment to early childhood
institution, and children’s happiness. Children’s adjustment to the early childhood institution showed the
largest explanatory power on the variance of their happiness, followed by ego-resiliency and family
strength. Study results reveal the critical impact of smooth adjustment on the happiness of the children
who attend these childcare centers as this factor was shown more powerful than strong personal and
famaily relations. The results call for an enhancement of early childcare quality to heip ensure children’s
happiness.