Introduction: Caring for stroke survivors in primary care settings substantially impacts family life and health. Caregivers of stroke survivors have different challenging experiences in providing care in relation to family happiness. This study aimed to explore family happiness and its contributing factors among family members caring for stroke survivors in suburban Thailand. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted among 54 family caregivers in suburban Thailand communities from January to July 2020. Interviews and focus group discussions were digitally recorded, independently transcribed and analysed using ATLAS.ti 8.0. Qualitative data analysis method was used. Results: Family happiness was found to help a family function and be satisfied with caring. The analysis revealed three themes for achieving family happiness: 1) ideal caregiver characteristics: virtue, love and gratitude, experience in caring, good health and self-care ability, good management of emotions and freedom to manage problems and obstacles; 2) family function: family structure, roles and duties, relationships and management of family problems; and 3) resource support: financial, health and environmental supports. Conclusion The findings demonstrate how life adaptations can improve family happiness within families of stroke survivors. Understanding caregivers’ perceptions of their experiences in caring for stroke survivors is a challenge for healthcare providers; overcoming this could transform an unpleasant life into caregiving happiness. Appropriate and practical support from healthcare authorities could empower families of stroke survivors to succeed in caregiving and achieve family happiness.
Perception ; Stroke ; Caregivers ; Happiness

BACKGROUND: Happiness may help to prevent negative physiological outcomes in response to life events; however, factors contributing to happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been longitudinally investigated. This study explored the predictors of happiness in mothers of young children in Japan using comparable data that were obtained before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted the baseline survey in February 2020, and 4 months later, we also conducted the follow-up survey. Throughout all 47 prefectures in Japan, 4,700 (100 respondents/prefecture) mothers of infants and/or preschoolers (0-6 years) participated in the baseline online survey; 2,489 of these also participated in the follow-up survey. RESULTS: We performed hierarchical multiple regression analysis and our final model indicated that maternal happiness during COVID-19 pandemic was positively related to employment status (homemaker, β = 0.052, p = 0.014), levels of available social support (average, β = 0.052, p = 0.012, high, β = 0.055, p = 0.010) and happiness score before the pandemic (β = 0.467, p < 0.001), and satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace (average, β = 0.129, p < 0.001; high, β = 0.279, p < 0.001), preventive behavior against COVID-19 (average, β = 0.055, p = 0.002; high, β = 0.045, p = 0.015) and positive attitudes/thinking (β = 0.087, p < 0.001) during the pandemic. In contrast, poor mental health (K6 ≥5, β = -0.042, p = 0.011) before the pandemic and negative changes during the pandemic (≥3, β = -0.085, p < 0.001) were negatively related to maternal happiness during the pandemic. Our final model explained 44.9% of the variance in mothers' happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace, preventive behavior, and positive attitudes/thinking were especially important for maternal happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future study is needed to consider measures against infectious diseases in the workplace that are desirable for the well-being of parents with young children, taking into account the gender perspective.
COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Happiness ; Humans ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Mothers/psychology* ; Pandemics

OBJECTIVES: The present systematic review was conducted to compare the effect of lavender on the quality of sleep, sexual desire, and vasomotor, psychological and physical symptoms among menopausal and elderly women. METHODS: There were five electronic databases which selected to search respective articles which included were Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library without any language restriction since the study inception to March 10, 2018. The quality of studies was assessed in accordance with a jaded scale. RESULTS: According to three trials, the lavender as utilized in a capsule form or aromatherapy could significantly improve the measured Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (P < 0.05) in the menopausal and elderly women. The aromatherapy with lavender improved sexual function (P < 0.001), depression (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), and physical (P < 0.001) symptoms. Based on a trial, 66.7%, 70.0%, and 53.3% of subjects reported feelings of relaxation, happiness, and cleanness effects of having used lavender respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested the effectiveness of the use of lavender either in capsule form or aromatherapy on the improved quality of sleep, depression, anxiety, sexual desire, and psychological and physical symptoms. These results, however, should be interpreted with caution considering the limitations of the study.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Aromatherapy ; Depression ; Female ; Happiness ; Hot Flashes ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Libido ; Menopause ; Relaxation

OBJECTIVE: Middle-aged women experience a lot of events of physical changes and various mental conflicts. The purpose of this study is to determine variables related to happiness, and to make and verify the model for happiness of middle-aged women. METHODS: We constructed conceptual model for happiness of middle-aged women in Korea, based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. This model consisted of three exogenous variables (health status, financial distress, and social support) and three endogenous variables (self-esteem, positive thinking, and happiness). For middle-aged women in Korea, we returned 442 questionnaires of 460 participants. RESULTS: Model fit of the modified model was satisfied; χ²=102.108, GFI=0.959, CMIN/DF=2.917, RMSEA=0.068, AGFI=0.922, CFI=0.977, SRMR=0.0368. Happiness was explained by 82% through health status, financial distress, social support, self-esteem, and positive thinking. As Maslow's hierarchy of needs, happiness of middle-aged women is related to basic needs (health status, financial distress, and social support), psychological needs (self-esteem and positive thinking) and self-fulfillment needs (happiness). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that it is required intervention for meeting basic factor such as health status, financial distress and social support in order to increase happiness of middle-aged women.
Female ; Happiness ; Humans ; Korea ; Thinking

OBJECTIVES: In recent decades, due to the high prevalence of divorce in numerous countries and the detrimental aftermath thereof, it has become increasingly important to study the components of marital stability. The current study explored fundamental protective factors in long-term marriage through a systematic review.METHODS: Searches for relevant publications were conducted in Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Magiran, and Scientific Information Database from their inception through January 30, 2019. Through the keyword search, 1,706 articles were found, of which 25 articles remained after screening based on the eligibility criteria.RESULTS: The extracted protective factors associated with marital stability in long-term marriage were classified as interpersonal and intrapersonal. Notable extracted factors included spirituality and religion, commitment, sexual relationship, communication, children, love and attachment, intimacy, and conflict resolution approach. These findings show that some aspects of relationships, such as commitment, act to preserve the pillars of marriage in critical situations, while other aspects, such as intimacy, help to construct marital identity and satisfaction.CONCLUSIONS: The identified components of marital stability are structures that enhance a couple's identity and sense of togetherness. Identifying the specific aspects of marital relationships that contribute to marital stability may help specialists and researchers to target specific types of marital interaction that may enhance the happiness and longevity of relationships, thereby preventing avoidable divorces.
Child ; Divorce ; Happiness ; Humans ; Longevity ; Love ; Marriage ; Mass Screening ; Negotiating ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Specialization ; Spirituality

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the ‘Becoming Happy I’ program on gratitude disposition, self-esteem, flow, and subjective happiness in nursing college students.METHODS: Participants in this study were 39 nursing college students (20 in the experimental group and 19 in the control group) at a college of nursing. The research design was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest as a quasi-experimental study. Data was collected from February to April in 2011 and analyzed via the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program with the χ² test, Fisher's exact test, repeated measures ANOVA, and Tukey HSD test.RESULTS: There were significant changes in gratitude disposition, self-esteem, flow, and subjective happiness in the experimental group before and after treatment, which was significantly different from the control group, and these effects lasted at a 4-week follow-up.CONCLUSION: The ‘Becoming Happy I’ program was effective in improving gratitude disposition, self-esteem, flow, and subjective happiness for nursing college students. As a result, we recommended that the ‘Becoming Happy I’ program be utilized as an effective intervention for nursing college students to improve gratitude disposition, self-esteem, flow, and subjective happiness.
Follow-Up Studies ; Happiness ; Humans ; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Nursing ; Research Design ; Self Concept

BACKGROUND: The growth of Korean adolescents' average height has slowed over the past 10 years. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between height and mental health in Korean male adolescents.METHODS: This study used data from the 2015 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (34,152 male school students). The male adolescents were divided into the below-average height and above-average height groups according to age. The association between height and mental health was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.RESULTS: The above-average height group had significantly higher subjective health (P=0.003) and significantly lower depression than the belowaverage height group (P=0.031). In multivariate logistic regression, the odds ratio of subjective health wass 1.13 (P=0.043), but no significant difference in subjective happiness, depression, stress and suicidal ideation (P>0.05) at both group.CONCLUSION: It was confirmed that height is associated with subjective health in Korean male adolescents.
Adolescent ; Depression ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Happiness ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mental Health ; Odds Ratio ; Risk-Taking ; Suicidal Ideation

PURPOSE: This study explored factors that influence happiness in nursing students.METHODS: The participants were 159 nursing students at a university in Seoul city. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with the SPSS Win 25.0.RESULTS: Happiness positively correlated with nursing professionalism (r=.482, p<.001) and academic self-efficacy (r=.422, p<.001). Significant predictors of happiness included nursing professionalism (β=.298, p<.001), academic self-efficacy (β=.2224 p=.001), subjective health status (β=.214, p=.002), major satisfaction (β=−.268, p=.040). These factors explained 35.5% of the variance in student happiness.CONCLUSION: The study shows nursing professionalism, academic self-efficacy, subjective health status and major satisfaction are important factors for happiness in nursing students. These findings can be utilized to develop strategies for increasing nursing students' happiness.
Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Happiness ; Humans ; Nursing ; Professionalism ; Seoul ; Students, Nursing

The Supreme Court decision made on May 21, 2009 about the withdrawal of futile life-prolonging medical care from a persistently vegetative patient provided a legal basis for patients to consent to death with dignity, and also spurred a lively debate in Korea. The legal grounding of this decision was based on the principles of human dignity, worth, and the right to pursue happiness articulated in the Article 10 of the Constitution. The Death with Dignity Act was legislated to regulate decisions about life-prolonging medical care on February 3, 2016, after extensive debate and a focus on consensus that led to two revisions. However, the issue has not been completely resolved. First, the definition of the process of dying is unclear, because the points that determine whether a patient is dying are different from a simple assessment of whether an artificial ventilator should be attached or detached. Second, the purpose of this law is the protection of human dignity, worth, and the right to pursue happiness. However, nutrition, fluids, and oxygen must continue to be supplied, even after cessation of life-prolonging medical care. Is providing a continuous supply of nutrition, fluids, and oxygen a reasonable way to satisfy the goals of Article 10 of the Constitution? Third, if the withdrawal of life-prolonging medical care is possible based on the family's agreement without the patient's input, what is the legal value of advance directives? In conclusion, it may be necessary to partially revise the law regulating decisions on the withdrawal of life-prolonging medical care through further debate.
Advance Directives ; Consensus ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Happiness ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Oxygen ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Personhood ; Right to Die ; Supreme Court Decisions ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Emotional information is critical for our social life, in which attentional bias is now a focus in the study on attention. However, the attentional bias processing mechanism of emotional faces still arouses huge controversy. Using similar experimental paradigms and stimuli, the published studies have yielded contradictory results. Some studies suggest that angry faces could automatically stimulate attention, that is, there is an anger superiority effect. On the contrary, lines of growing evidence support the existence of a happiness superiority effect, suggesting that the superiority effect is shown in happy faces rather than angry faces. In the present paper, the behavioral and neuroscience studies of anger and happiness superiority effects are combined. It is found that there are three major reasons for the debate over the two types of effects, which include the choice of stimulus materials, the difference of paradigm setting, and the different stages of emotional processing. By comparatively integrating the previous published results, we highlight that the future studies should further control the experimental materials and procedures, and investigate the processing mechanism of anger and happiness superiority effects by combining cognitive neurobiology means to resolve the disputes.
Anger ; Attentional Bias ; Facial Expression ; Happiness ; Humans