Abstract: Sustainable happiness research has recently received renewed attention. Studies present exercises intended to enhance happiness. A comprehensive process by which to sustain happiness has not thus far been studied comprehensively. Drawing on the Goal-Setting and Experimental Learning theories, we endeavour to form a Happiness Enrichment Perspective (HSP). A cyclic Happiness Sustainability Model of four stages is presented aimed at advancing a future research framework. Predicated on data gleaned from 458 respondents, we applied SEM aimed at validating HSP. Findings corroborate the proposed Happiness Sustainability Cycle (HSC). Implications and suggestions for future studies on happiness sustainability are proposed in order to further validate the proposed model.
Keywords: Sustainable happiness Well-being Goal-setting Experiential learning
Discussion
The results indicate the adequacy of ELT and GST as theoretical bases to the formation
of a comprehensive process of sustainable happiness. ELT illustrates a continuous
cycle, where conclusions based on concrete experience are key to improving the
learning process (Tomkins and Ulus 2016), and the ability to enhance and sustain
happiness. Exercising happiness and the following conclusion phase form the two
foundations of our HSC model. Findings corroborate that much like in ELT, each of the
phases affect the next in a continuous and logically evolving cycle which gradually
augments and sustains happiness. GST complements EST because both focus on the
goal itself, stating that a challenging goal leads to higher performance (Gary P. Latham
2016), and that individuals must be able to monitor progress (Bruhn et al. 2016), in
order to achieve their goal. Accordance with the GST approach, our findings imply that
a continuous work is required in order to reach sustainable happiness, where feedback
from experience enables the conclusion phase that, ultimately allows for undertaking
improvements in performance.
Concurrent with the prevailing view that discounts the inability to attain sustainable
happiness, and constitutes an obstacle to research on the sustainable happiness (Seligman
2004), we explore the process by which happiness may be enriched and sustained.
Largely findings corroborate the Cognitive Appraisal Theory (CAT), positing that
appraisal or perceptions of events elicit emotional response (Rooij et al. 2015).
Accordingly, goal-conduciveness and goal-obstruction refer to the way in which an
event affects progress towards attaining individuals goals (Kreibig et al. 2012). ‘Meaning, evaluation of whether an event is indicative of being helpful or it hinders goal
attainment, which in-turn stimulates positive or negative emotions (Aue and Scherer
2008). Our HSP approach postulates that individuals can control and shape happiness
iteratively through the process exemplified by the HSC model. The progress towards
goal that individuals experience by following HSC phases, gradually enhances positive
emotions and encourages happiness sustainability, as argued by both CAT and GST.
An example of personal control of happiness offered by following the HSC
model, may be observed by the Facial Feedback Hypothesis, which states that
facial muscles do not only express emotions, but also initiate emotions
(Dimberg and Söderkvist 2011). That is, by performing a voluntary action or exercise,
individuals can augment positive emotions.
The study offers several contributions.
First, despite growing awareness regarding the possibility of sustainable happiness
(cf. O'Brien 2016), few studies provide evidence as to how to reach sustainable
happiness (Ganser 2012), and no study has yet to present a comprehensive process
by which lasting happiness may be sustained. We argue that human beings have the
power to boost and sustain their lasting happiness, by following the Happiness Sustainability Cycle Model.
Second, while goals attainment has been shown to be a factor that impacts happiness
positively (Headey 2008), scholars have recently suggested to set happiness itself as a
goal (cf. Kagan 2016). We corroborate this supposition and provide empirical evidence
showing that by setting happiness itself as a goal, it may be enriched and sustained.
Third, drawing on the GST and the ELT perspectives, we offer a tentative Happiness
Enrichment Model, or the four-stage HSC model. This model may serve as a framework for future research in the domain of happiness sustainability.
Limitations and Future Studies
Whilst we have managed to successfully validate key theoretical constructs, they
should be critically reassessed predicated on different research populations and in
different research loci. Specifically, research shows that the concept and prediction of
happiness vary cross-culturally (Oishi and Gilbert 2016). Future studies may benefit
from examining our model in diverse cultures.
According to O'Brien (2016), “Sustainable happiness is happiness that contributes to
individual, community, or global well-being without exploiting other people, the
environment, or future generations.” (p. 1). This definition places individual happiness
and wellbeing in a broader context and underscores that happiness and well-being do
not exist in isolation (Harwood 2011). Accordingly, O’Brien (ibid) describes activities
for encouraging one’s gratitude towards the environment, seeing the environment as
key for personal development of happiness. For instance, “what feeling and images
come to mind when you think about the environment?”…., “what feeling and images
come to mind when you think about nature?”…“compare the comments about the
environments and nature, does this reveal anything to you?” (p. 17). O’Brien also
outlines the Earth Charter Project (http://earthcharter.org/), an ethical framework for
building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the twenty-first century. This
is followed by suggestions of activities that highlights how this framework enhances
sustainable happiness. Also outlined by O’Brien is the World Happiness Report, which
describes sustainable development as “a holistic approach to well-being that calls on
societies to pursue economic, social, and environmental objectives in an integrated
manner” (World Happiness Report 2016, p.6). The World Happiness Report is a
groundbreaking survey of the state of happiness around the world (White 2017). Since
2012 this report has been manually updating the rank of 156 countries based on their
happiness levels (Ngoo 2017). The report reflects an emerging worldwide awareness to
happiness as a criterion for government policy (Folgieri et al. 2017). Noteworthy are
studies that address happiness at a national level including the Ecological Well-being
Performance (IEWP). This study aims at measuring the efficiency of transforming
ecological consumption to human wellbeing (Zhang et al. 2018). The Happy Planet
Index measures how well nations are doing at achieving long, happy, sustainable lives
(Suciu et al. 2018), and wellbeing environmental efficiency also referred to as the
ecological intensity of wellbeing (Mayer 2017). This is a sustainability measure
affected by economic development, climate, and social factors (Lv 2017).
A valuable future research may be to introduce sustainable happiness practices and
explore if the HSC Model is viable and if these interventions engender Lasting
Sustainable Happiness rather than simply lasting happiness, embracing a broader,
interdisciplinary perspective of happiness.
Additionally, numerous studies show a significant association between religiousness, measured by attendance at religious services, and happiness (Sander 2017). This
view is also supported and presented in the qualitative findings section. We encourage
therefore future investigators to extend the HSC Model by integrating religiousness in
order to examine the extent to which it affects happiness. Such controls as demographics, including gender, and ethnic origin have also been found to affect happiness
(Glaeser et al. 2016), where woman, white Caucasians, and married people are shown
to be happier (ibid). Hence, we would recommend investigators to integrate and
examine such and other demographic effects on happiness employing the HSC Model.
An additional and potentially revealing factor would be national culture. Cultures differ
in the way happiness is perceived and achieved (Bieda et al. 2017; Oishi and Gilbert
2016), and hence a comparative study that examines cultural differences with respect to
the HSC model would be of interest.
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