Multiple Intelligences and Attachment among University Students and Their Influence on Life Satisfaction and Happiness

Abstract

This study is about the types of multiple intelligences and attachment styles among a group of Turkish university students. Participants were 450 students from one public university in Turkey. A demographic and socio-economic questionnaire, Multiple Intelligence Survey, Revised Adult Attachment Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire -short version were used as study instruments. Of the 450 students, 63.8% were female and the mean age was 21.24±2.14 years. Bodily intelligence was reported more frequently by male students whereas intrapersonal and logical intelligences were reported at higher rates in female students. Attachment related avoidance was reported by 58.7% of the students. Male students reported more attachment related anxiety, and female students reported more attachment related avoidance. No significant correlations were determined between attachment style and economic status, age, class-year and Grade Point Average of the students. The relationship between students’ intelligence and attachment style was also insignificant. No significant relationship was determined between the happiness and life satisfaction scores of students with different types of intelligences. Female students were found to be significantly happier and satisfied with their lives than male students. Students with a poor economic status had the lowest happiness and life satisfaction scores and the difference was statistically significant. These findings are important to provide a more complete picture about the difficulties experienced by young adults when socially or emotionally adapting to university life. There is much to say regarding the impact of “multiple intelligences”, “attachment styles” and the “subjective well-being” of university students.