University of Twente Student Theses
Exploring Long-Term Changes in Happiness and its Predictors : A Latent Class Analysis.
Braun, Lina (2023) Exploring Long-Term Changes in Happiness and its Predictors : A Latent Class Analysis.
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| Abstract: | In the past, changes in long-term happiness have often been investigated on an average level showing incongruent findings in change pattern and predictors. To get a more elaborate insight into changes in long-term happiness, the aim of this study was to investigate whether there are multiple participants with similar happiness change trajectories that can be modelled into classes. And, if certain characteristics predict following a specific trajectory. From 2008 to 2022, data was gathered from 1340 participants. Happiness was the dependent variable, age, and personality traits neuroticism and agreeableness, were used as independent variables. Multiple latent growth mixture models were employed to model the trajectories of change in happiness. Three latent classes were found describing different happiness trajectories. Most people (68%) had a stable, high level of happiness over time. Another class (17%) showed an overall decrease in happiness, depicting a U-shaped change pattern. The third class (15%) increased in happiness generally but had an inverted U-shaped pattern. Scoring high in neuroticism was predictive for being assigned to class 2 or 3 and being younger was predictive for being assigned to class 2. This insight allows creating adjusted interventions for subgroups to increase their happiness. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/94420 |
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