DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ HAPPINESS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop a university students’ happiness enhancement program. The research methodology was divided into 4 phases, which were phase 1, reviewing of the research literature on the definition of happiness, happiness enhancement program, Social and Emotional Learning theory, and Roy’s Adaptation theory. In phase 2, the contents were analyzed and summarized. A university students’ happiness enhancement program was developed in phase 3. Finally, the quality of the program was analyzed by a panel of 5 experts to evaluate the content validity. After that, the improved program was used for the experiment with 10 less happiness students to check the suitability of the activity, time spent in organizing activities, and then, to improve the program to be complete. The results of the research were as follows: 1. Factors affecting student happiness consisted of 3 factors which were self, institutions, and social. In addition, Social and Emotional Learning Theory with Roy's adaptation theory were appropriate to be used for developing happiness enhancement program. 2. Program components included names, objectives, concepts, procedures, and media. 3. There was 10 activities of the developed program which were 1) Building a relationship 2) Emotional awareness 3) Self-management 4) Building an empathy 5) Responsible decision making 6) Yoga relaxation 7) Self–esteem 8) Open-minded 9) Compassion meditation 10) Social relationship. The duration of the program was 6 weeks, 3 days a week, and 1 hour per day. 4. The developed program had content validity of the components of the activity equal to 1.00. The content validity of 10 activities had an average consistency index equal to 0.90 and the consistency of the activity scheduling program developed was 0.92. The program was determined to enhance a university students’ happiness.