Exploring Filipino adolescents’ conception of happiness

Abstract

The current paper aimed to explore the meaning and conception of happiness among selected Filipino adolescents. Ten Filipino college students whose ages range between 16 and 20 were selected through purposive sampling. The study employed qualitative-descriptive research design. Findings showed that happiness is a multifaceted construct that involved the following major themes: satisfaction of wants, absence of worries, expression of positive emotions, motivational drive, and fulfillment of relational needs. Distinct personal characteristics and positive behavioral strategies predictive of happiness were identified as well. Enhancing positive emotions, positive traits and behavioral strategies of individuals from this developmental phase may be a good step to increase their social, psychological and occupational functioning in the form of academic, extra-curricular, co-curricular endeavours.