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Fragility of Happiness Beliefs Across 15 National Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Mohsen Joshanloo
  • Dan Weijers
  • Ding-Yu Jiang
  • Gyuseog Han
  • Jaechang Bae
  • Joyce Pang
  • Lok Ho
  • Maria Ferreira
  • Melikşah Demir
  • Muhammad Rizwan
  • Imran Khilji
  • Mustapha Achoui
  • Ryosuke Asano
  • Tasuku Igarashi
  • Saori Tsukamoto
  • Sanne Lamers
  • Yücel Turan
  • Suresh Sundaram
  • Victoria Yeung
  • Wai-Ching Poon
  • Zarina Lepshokova
  • Tatiana Panyusheva
  • Amerkhanova Natalia

Abstract

The belief that happiness is fragile—that it is fleeting and may easily turn into less favourable states—is common across individuals and cultures. However, not much is known about this belief domain and its structure and correlates. In the present study, we use multigroup confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel modelling to investigate the measurement invariance, cross-level isomorphism, predictive validity, and nomological network of the fragility of happiness scale across 15 nations. The results show that this scale has good statistical properties at both individual and cultural levels, and is associated with relevant psycho-social concepts in expected directions. The importance of the results, limitations, and potential directions for future research are discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Mohsen Joshanloo & Dan Weijers & Ding-Yu Jiang & Gyuseog Han & Jaechang Bae & Joyce Pang & Lok Ho & Maria Ferreira & Melikşah Demir & Muhammad Rizwan & Imran Khilji & Mustapha Achoui & Ryosuke Asano &, 2015. "Fragility of Happiness Beliefs Across 15 National Groups," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(5), pages 1185-1210, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:16:y:2015:i:5:p:1185-1210
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9553-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mohsen Joshanloo & Dan Weijers, 2014. "Aversion to Happiness Across Cultures: A Review of Where and Why People are Averse to Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 717-735, June.
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    8. Aparna A. Labroo & Anirban Mukhopadhyay, 2009. "Lay Theories of Emotion Transience and the Search for Happiness: A Fresh Perspective on Affect Regulation," Journal of Consumer Research, Oxford University Press, vol. 36(2), pages 242-254.
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    Cited by:

    1. Richard A. Burns, 2019. "The Utility of Between-Nation Subjective Wellbeing Comparisons Amongst Nations Within the European Social Survey," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 683-705, March.
    2. L. Lambert & H.-A. Passmore & M. Joshanloo, 2019. "A Positive Psychology Intervention Program in a Culturally-Diverse University: Boosting Happiness and Reducing Fear," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1141-1162, April.
    3. Richard A. Burns & Dimity A. Crisp, 2022. "Prioritizing Happiness has Important Implications for Mental Health, but Perhaps Only if you Already are Happy," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(1), pages 375-390, February.
    4. Holli-Anne Passmore & Andrew J. Howell & Mark D. Holder, 2018. "Positioning Implicit Theories of Well-Being Within a Positivity Framework," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(8), pages 2445-2463, December.

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