COMPARISON OF THE LEVEL OF HAPPINESS IN A UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

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NÉSTOR ROMERO-RAMOS, CARLOS EVELIO LÓPEZ-CEBALLOS, YANIER ALBERTO HERNÁNDEZ Trujillo, HAROL MAURICIO LÓPEZ SEPÚLVEDA, ARNOLDO GONZÁLEZ , DOCTOR (C), JULIÁN ANDRÉS CRUZ JARAMILLO.

Abstract

Introduction: The physical, mental and emotional well-being of people is related to happiness. The evaluation of happiness in university education institutions is relevant, since it allows monitoring the impact of educational policies on the well-being of the university community. In this sense, this study measured the level of happiness of a university community in Colombia, where few studies of this type have been carried out. Methods: A total of 827 people participated in the study (78 administrative staff, 70 teachers and 679 students). For the measurement of happiness, the Sophie test was applied, which was answered completely online. A multivariate analysis of variance and a bivariate correlation analysis were applied. No significant differences were found in the level of happiness with respect to sex and the mention of study of the participants (p > .05). When occupation is taken into account, teachers and administrators are happier than students (p < .05). Happiness was significantly correlated with age and happiness in their occupation (ps < .001). The lowest scale scores were in the area of physical health and external vision for all groups. Conclusions: The results affirm that the evaluated community has an adequate level of happiness, but that in the areas of physical health and external vision, changes need to be reviewed and applied, for the improvement of these indicators in the members of the university community.

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