Psychosocial factors that predict happiness: A multigroup path analysis.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Happiness is crucial for biopsychosocial development across cultures.
• Optimism, gratitude, mental health, and psychological well-being are identified as potential happiness promoters.
• This study investigated happiness predictors in a Mexican population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors that predict happiness in a Mexican sample.
• To examine the roles of optimism and gratitude in relation to psychological well-being and happiness.
• To explore potential moderating variables influencing these relationships.

Main Methods:

• A nonexperimental, cross-sectional design with non-probabilistic sampling.
• Utilized scales for optimism, gratitude, psychological well-being, and happiness.
• Employed descriptive analysis, hierarchical regression, path analysis, and multigroup analysis with 250 participants.

Main Results:

• Hierarchical regression explained 57.4% of variance; structural model explained 31.53%.
• Gratitude positively predicted psychological well-being and happiness.
• Optimism positively predicted psychological well-being, mental health, and happiness.

Conclusions:

• Optimism and gratitude are significant predictors of happiness and psychological well-being.
• Sex, marital status, and religion were identified as moderating variables.
• Findings can inform intervention strategies to enhance population happiness.