The role of sociodemographic characteristics on happiness

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in subjective well-being of trade workers in Ribeirão Preto and two nearby cities. The following characteristics were considered in the study: gender, marital status, ethnicity, education, religious practice, the presence of some types of diseases, practice or absence of smoking and practice of physical activities. The measurement instruments used were two types of scales: the Subjective Happiness Scale, with four items, and a scale with a single item which assessed general level of happiness. The sample of 467 interviews was collected at the interviewees' workplace. The factor analysis and multivariate regression with dummy variables were used for statistical analysis of the data and differences were found in levels of BES for some of the mentioned features.

Happiness; Subjective well-being; Positive psychology