Happiness Rate and Its Association with Well-Being and Religiosity in a Sample of College Students from Kuwait University

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to estimate happiness rate and its relation with well-being and religiosity in a sample of undergraduates from Kuwait University (n = 349). The study sample responded to the following scales: (a) the Arabic Scale of Happiness, (b) well-being variables as assessed with the self-rating scales of physical health, mental health, happiness, and satisfaction with life, and (c) religiosity. The study sample obtained a higher mean happiness score than did most of the Arab countries, but near to the Arabian Gulf countries mean scores. Males obtained statistically significant higher mean scores on happiness and mental health than did their female counterparts. All the Pearson correlation coefficients between the study scales were statistically significant except five correlations between religiosity and other scales. A principal component analysis retained one factor in men and labeled "Well-being and religiosity". Among women, two salient factors were extracted and labeled "Well-being", and "Religiosity". It was concluded that the well-being scales have high convergent validity including happiness.