Social capital and happiness among health sector personnel in Iran

Abstract

Background: Happiness and its associated factors are of critical importance in human health. Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the association between social capital (social relations) and happiness among health personnel in Iran. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 537 health personnel were selected from the West of Iran through stratified random sampling. The study tools included a demographic checklist, a social relations questionnaire, and Oxford happiness inventory (OHI). For statistical analysis, independent t test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation test, and multiple regression analysis were performed, using SPSS version 18 and AMOS software. Results: Amonghappiness dimensions, themeanscore of "sense of vitality" was significantly higher in men, compared towomen(P < 0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that family relations had the greatest direct effect on "life satisfaction" (β, 298; P < 0.01) and "positive affect" (β, 0.257; P < 0.01). Gender played a mediating role only between workplace relations and happiness (P = 0.004). In addition, canonical correlation analysis indicated that 23.5% of variance in the happiness components could be predicted by the components of social relations, based on the Wilks' lambda (0.765). Conclusions: The findings showed that family and family relations are still the most important sources of happiness. Reinforcement of social relations, as the central aspect of social capital, can play an essential role in increasing happiness in different social groups.