An Analysis of Individual Variables Affecting Levels of Happiness in Children from Low Income Families
AUTHOR : 한지숙
INFORMATION : page. 1~18 / 2011 Vol.18 No.3
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of individual variables, self-satisfaction regarding
appearance, optimism, personality and self-efficacy on the levels of child happiness in low income families.
For the purpose of this study, 202 school-age children from the 4th to 6th grades were randomly selected
from local childcare centers located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The researcher collected questionnaires for
three weeks in June 2010. The data gathered from 200 questionnaires were analyzed by simple regression
and stepwise regression analysis. The main results were as follows: First, this study indicated that levels of
happiness were positively correlated with self-satisfaction regarding appearance, optimism and self-efficacy
and was negatively correlated with personality. Secondly, as a result of simple regression analysis, individual
variables, self-satisfaction regarding appearance, optimism, personality and self-efficacy was observed to
impact upon the happiness levels of children from low income families. The study also confirmed that the
variable of self-efficacy had the greatest impact upon the happiness levels of children from low income
families.