PDF
ePub
Citation
Print
Hee-Jin Shin1
, Jeung-Im Kim2
, Jeung-Im Kim2
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore the components and nature of happiness in middle-aged women in Korea.
Methods
Thirty middle-aged women living in metropolitan Seoul and Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces agreed to participate in this study. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with the participants in one-on-one settings. The data were analyzed qualitative using Colaizzi's method of phenomenology.
Results
The three theme clusters were extracted from the raw data, along with 13 themes and 138 meaningful sentences and phrases. The three happiness theme clusters in middle-aged women were “live healthy for stability,” “rule one's mind for harmony,” and “activate hopes for self-esteem.” The first theme cluster included healthy life, economic stability, physical youth, and positive thought. The second theme cluster included that harmonious family, ruling of mind, my position as invisible person in social relationships, and precious relationships to support. The last theme included the center of one's life is oneself, a sense of accomplishment, self-improvement, recognition of one's worth and rest for one self. The three theme clusters were associated with the existence, relatedness, and growth (ERG) of ERG areas, respectively.
Conclusions
We conclude that the core components of happiness in middle-aged women are to live healthy and mind-ruled and activate hope. The nature of happiness is egocentric stability in middle-aged women. The results suggest that theme clusters might be used to develop a scale for measuring happiness in middle-aged women. This will be helpful to assess the psychosocial status of middle-aged women in Korea.
Figures and Tables
Table 1
Characteristics of Participants
Table 2
Process of Themes, Theme Clusters from Meaning of Construction on Happiness in Middle-Aged Women
Notes
Other This manuscript is the first result that explored the meaning of happiness from the first author's doctoral dissertation.
Summary Statement
• What is already known about this topic?
Middle-aged women are known to be depressed and lonely. Middle-aged women have reported as their negative experiences and do not explore their positive aspects.
• What this paper adds?
The core determinant of happiness in middle-aged women was changed to “herself” from a family member. The nature of happiness was egocentric stability in middle-aged women and three theme clusters were “live healthy for stability,” “rule one’s mind for harmony,” and “activate hope for self-esteem.”
• Implications for practice, education and/or policy
The results showed that measuring the happiness could identify parts that could improve their happiness. Three theme clusters might be used to develop a scale for measuring happiness in middle-aged women.
References
1. Argyle M, Martin M, Crossland J. Happiness as a function of personality and social encounters. In : Forgas JP, Innes JM, editors. Recent advances in social psychology: an international perspective. North-Holland: Elsevier Science Publishers B.V;1989. p. 189–247.
2. Diener E. Subjective well-being. Psychological bulletin. 1984; 95(3):542–575.
3. Ozkara San E. Concept analysis of nurses' happiness. Nursing forum. 2015; 50(1):55–62.
4. Fowler JH, Christakis NA. Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study. BMJ. 2008; 337:a2338.
5. Sim IO. Expectations of middle-aged women for a life of happiness to the spouse. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing. 2015; 21(2):139–149.
6. Ku BJ. The influence of resilience, hope, marital intimacy, and family support on quality of life for middle-aged women. Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 2008; 17(4):421–430.
7. Hong CY, Yoon M. The effect of spirituality on happiness and depression of women in midlife. Korean Journal of Woman Psychology. 2013; 18(1):219–242.
8. Inglehart R. Culture shift in advanced industrial society. Princeton: Princeton University Press;1990.
9. Jeon HS, Lee HY. A study on the influential factors of subjective happiness in the career development type middle - aged women: focusing on life expectancy, mindfulness, and social support. Asian Women's Studies. 2010; 49(1):123–159.
10. Stokes R, Frederick-Recascino C. Women's perceived body image: relations with personal happiness. Journal of Women & Aging. 2003; 15(1):17–29.
11. Park SJ, Yoo HS. Shangri-La syndrome of Korean in their 40s and 50s - factors affecting the syndrome, conditions, and tools for young appearance. Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing Industry. 2011; 13(1):55–65.
12. Ryu K, Rie JI. The factors of happy life among Korean women. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology. 2010; 24(2):89–104.
13. Hong JG. A study on happiness in positive psychology. Journal of Happiness and Affluence Studies. 2012; 1(1):51–70.
14. Oishi S, Graham J, Kesebir S, Galinha IC. Concepts of happiness across time and cultures. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin. 2013; 39(5):559–577.
15. Schneider B, Alderfer CP. Three studies of measures of need satisfaction in organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly. 1973; 18(4):489–505.
16. Koo JS, Kim UC. Happiness and subjective well-being among Korean students and adults: indigenous psychological analysis. Korean Journal of Psychological and Social Issues. 2006; 12(2):77–100.
17. Do KJ, Lee JS. Concept analysis of happiness. Journal of Korean Association for Qualitative Research. 2016; 1:53–63.
18. Ryu SA, Kim KM, Choi IC. The longitudinal effect of leisure on happiness and health in midlife. Korean Journal of Psychological and Social Issues. 2011; 17(4):415–434.
19. Colaizzi PF. Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology. In : Valle RS, King M, editors. Psychological research as the phenomenologist views. New York: Oxford University Press;1978. p. 48–71.
20. Guba EG, Lincoln YS. Effective evaluation: improving the usefulness of evaluation results through responsive and naturalistic approaches. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers;1981. p. 383–410.
21. Patton MQ. Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Qualitative evaluation and research methods. 4th ed. Newbury Park: Sage;2015. p. 603–619.
22. Alderfer CP. An empirical test of a new theory of human needs. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance. 1969; 4(2):142–175.
23. Kim MS, Kim HW, Han YS, Lim JY. An analysis on the demographic characteristics of happy life of Korean. Korean Journal of Psychology: General. 2003; 22(2):1–33.
24. Uchida Y, Norasakkunkit V, Kitayama S. Cultural constructions of happiness: theory and empirical evidence. Journal of Happiness Studies. 2004; 5(3):223–239.
25. Seligman ME. Authentic happiness: using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York: Simon and Schuster;2004.
26. Hyun KJ. A longitudinal search for the origin and theme of happiness felt by Koreans. Mental Health & Social Work. 2004; 18:60–100.
27. Oh MJ, Lee SY. A study on the determinants of happiness: focused on Alderfer's E.R.G theory. Korean Public Administration Quarterly. 2017; 29(3):489–508.
28. Compare A, Zarbo C, Marín E, Meloni A, Rubio-Arias JA, Berengüí R, et al. PAHA study: psychological active and healthy aging: psychological wellbeing, proactive attitude and happiness effects of whole-body vibration versus multicomponent training in aged women: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014; 15(1):177–182.
29. Compton WC. Introduction to positive psychology. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth;2005.
30. Nam EY, Lee J, Kim M. Do leisure activities make people happier?: the role of social capital and social leisure. Korean Journal of Sociology. 2012; 46(5):1–33.
XML Download