Level of Happiness and Factors Associated with Happiness among 21st Century Undergraduate Students, Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the happiness levels, the factors related to happiness, and personal factors associated with the happiness of undergraduate students at Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University in the 21st century. The study sampled 386 undergraduate students from the regular undergraduate programs at Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University in the 2020 academic year, encompassing students from years one to four. The participants were selected through random sampling.
The research utilized two questionnaires: a personal information questionnaire and the Thai Mental Health Indicator-55 (TMHI-55) questionnaire developed by the Department of Mental Health. The TMHI-55 questionnaire consists of 55 items and employs a 4-point Likert scale. Data analysis was performed using various statistical methods, including percentages, means, standard deviations, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients.
The research findings indicated that 84.2% of the students reported lower levels of happiness compared to the general population. Furthermore, there were significant differences in happiness levels among students based on their academic year, faculty of study, and average monthly family income. The analysis also revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between academic year and happiness (r = -0.143, p<.01).
In summary, this study aimed to explore the happiness levels and factors associated with the happiness of undergraduate students at Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University in the 21st century. It found that happiness levels varied based on factors such as academic year, faculty of study, and family income, with a significant negative correlation between academic year and happiness.