The constructs of happiness among Vietnamese living in the Philippines

• Main Author: Nguyen, Dinh Vinh Paul
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2002
• Subjects: Happiness; Contentment; Vietnamese; Counseling Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/929
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study examines the constructs of happiness among Remaining Vietnamese Nationals (RVNs) in the Philippines, and the predictors of life satisfaction and affect balance of this population. In addition this study examines the effect of sex, age, marital status, and residence locations on level of happiness. Two hundred and sixty-seven respondents participated in the interviews. A survey questionnaire that contained six self-report questionnaires was completely filled up by 319 respondents from six regions of the Philippines. Statistical tools used were Pearson's Product Moment Correlation, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Analysis of Variance with the significant level at .05. The results revealed that RVNs construed their happiness based on traditional Vietnamese constructs of happiness with some modifications. Their constructs of happiness were composed of four domains: family, work, health, and interpersonal relationships. All these domains should be in harmony. Family Happiness was the best predictor of life satisfaction, affect balance, and the four factors of happiness (Discomfort at Failure, Enhancement, Change-Orientation, and Loneliness). The second predictor was relationships with other Vietnamese. Sex and Residence locations appeared to have no association with life satisfaction and affect balance, while age and marital status had significant correlation with happiness. Married people were happier than single ones and middle aged people were happier than younger and older ones. The discussion of the results was based on various theories on happiness, especially based on cultural, social economic, and political factors. Several implications on counseling Vietnamese and counseling psychology were addressed. Some recommendations for future studies to investigate the constructs of happiness among Vietnamese were forwarded at the end of the study.