Defining implicit theories and exploring predictors of subjective well-being among Filipino adolescents

In line with the aims of the positive psychology movement, this research was designed to gain an in-depth understanding of the concept of happiness, otherwise known as subjective well-being within psychological literature, among Filipino adolescents. Towards this end, three sub-studies were conducted using the qualitative, quantitative, and psychosocial case study research designs. Participants for this investigation were urban-based university college students from Metro Manila and the Bicol Region. The first phase of the study (n = 68) employed a qualitative research design to explore Filipino adolescents conceptions of happiness, their descriptions of a typical happy Filipino adolescent, and their perceived sources of happiness. There was also an attempt, in this phase of the investigation, to establish whether Filipino adolescents conceptions of happiness would show parallels to existing Western formulations of happiness, and whether the conceptions of happiness of the Filipino adolescents would point to new criteria or aspects of happiness or subjective well being that are unique for this group. In the second phase of the study (n = 305), a quantitative research design was used to examine the association between selected personality and psychosocial variables and the indices of subjective well-being life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. In the last phase of the study, case studies of four nominated and self-confessed happy Filipino adolescents (n = 4) were conducted to obtain a clearer picture of the characteristics of happy Filipino adolescents and to validate if the findings obtained in the first two studies are lived out by individuals considered to be happy. The results of the present study indicate that: (1) generally, when using the cross-cultural perspective, the implicit theories of happiness for urban universitybased Filipino adolescents are predominantly consistent with the conceptualization of happiness of individuals coming from collectivist cultures; and (2) the implicit theories of happiness of the Filipino adolescents show convergence and divergence with the Western conceptualization of happiness. Their fusion is evident in giving emphasis on the salience of personality traits or dispositions (e.g., extraversion, neuroticism, and self-esteem) as important factors influencing happiness or SWB, whereas the noticeable discrepancy is the stress on the interpersonal realm or the psychosocial or relationship elements in the perspective on happiness of the Filipino adolescents; in contrast with the Western or highly individualistic cultures conception of happiness which places greater stress on intrapersonal or internal evaluation and contentment. Based on these findings, several implications for counseling practice as well as recommendations for future studies are forwarded