Life satisfaction and feeling of happiness among students

Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati zadovoljstvo životom i uobičajeno raspoloženje studenata, te ispitati povezanost ovih konstrukata sa zadovoljstvom specifičnim aspektima života (obitelj, prijatelji, studij, materijalna situacija, ljubavna situacija, slobodno vrijeme, zdravlje, fizički izgled, prihvaćenost od okoline, osjećaj fizičke sigurnosti, duhovni život, osjećaj postignuća, perspektiva za budućnost i zadovoljstvo samim sobom). Dodatno smo ispitali trenutno raspoloženje te istražili razlike u odnosu na uobičajeno raspoloženje. Istraživanje je provedeno na 141 studentu. Sve varijable mjerili smo na skalama od 10 stupnjeva, gdje je veći broj upućivao na veće zadovoljstvo ili sreću. Rezultati su pokazali da su studenti zadovoljni životom (M = 7,8, sd = 1,438) i sretni (M = 7,49, sd = 1,307). Trenutno raspoloženje je niže od uobičajenog (M = 6,9, sd = 1,860), a studenti tu razliku dominantno pripisuju obavezama i umoru. Studenti su, u prosjeku, zadovoljni svim aspektima života, a najzadovoljniji osjećajem fizičke sigurnosti, odnosima s prijateljima i prihvaćanjem od okoline, a najmanje zadovoljni slobodnim vremenom. Faktorskom analizom zadovoljstva pojedinim aspektima života dobivena su tri faktora: zadovoljstvo privatnim životom, zadovoljstvo “poslovnim” životom i opterećenost. Na temelju zadovoljstva pojedinim aspektima života možemo predvidjeti 65% varijance općeg zadovoljstva životom pri čemu su značajni prediktori zadovoljstvo odnosima s prijateljima, zadovoljstvo odnosima s obitelji, zadovoljstvo duhovnim životom, ljubavnom situacijom, prihvaćanjem od okoline i materijalnim stanjem. Zadovoljstvo pojedinim aspektima života objašnjava i 52% varijance uobičajenog raspoloženja (sreće), a značajni prediktori su zadovoljstvo odnosima s prijateljima, zadovoljstvo samima sobom i zadovoljstvo slobodnim vremenom.The aim of the study was to explore life satisfaction and common and current mood of students, and to relate them to satisfaction with particular aspects of life (family, friends, economic status, studying, love situation, leisure, health, physical appearance, physical safety, spiritual life, achievement, future perspectives and satisfaction with oneself). The research was conducted on 141 students. All variables were measured on 10 point scales, higher scores indicating higher satisfaction or happiness. Results showed that students are satisfied with their lives (M = 7.8, sd = 1.438) and happy (M = 7.49, sd = 1.307). Current mood is lower than common mood (M = 6.9, sd = 1.860), and students assign this difference mostly to obligations and tiredness. Students are, in general, satisfied with all aspects of their lives, and most satisfied with physical safety, relations with friends and acceptance by the community, while least satisfied with leisure (free time). Factor analysis of satisfaction with different aspects of life resulted in three factors: satisfaction with private life, satisfaction with “business” life and exhaustion. On the basis of satisfaction with specific aspects of life we can predict 65% of the variance of general life satisfaction, while significant predictors are satisfaction with relations with friends, satisfaction with relations with family, satisfaction with spiritual life, love situation, acceptance by the community and economic status. Satisfaction with particular aspects of life explains 52% of common mood (happiness), and significant predictors are satisfaction with relations with friends, satisfaction with oneself, and satisfaction with leisure (free time)