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This study examines the subjective well-being of schoolchildren and how it is affected by being bullied. The research aims to measure children's happiness and understand its influence on other outcomes such as learning and behavior. The study also explores the effects of time and place on children's happiness and investigates the role of teachers' perceptions in children's emotions, concentration, and behavior.
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Assessing schoolchildren’s subjective well-being and how it is affected by being bullied John Ivens 1st European conference – Emotional well-being in educational settings: Paris
Subtitle: Measuring Happiness in Children
Children’s happiness – Why bother? Happiness: • is a positively valued condition and therefore a desired outcome • may influence other outcomes such as learning and behaviour • is currently measured through its absence
Happiness - What is it? Philosophical models: • Utilitarian, pleasure and the absence of pain • Eudaimonia, a life of good fortune and disinterested occupation
Happiness - What is it? “ [A] State of psychological well-being characterized by dominantly agreeable emotions” ERIC (2002) <http://ericae.net/scripts/ewiz/amain4.asp> accessed on 10-May-02
Well-Being “Condition of existence, or state of awareness, in which physical and/or psychological needs are satisfied” ERIC (2002) <http://ericae.net/scripts/ewiz/amain4.asp> accessed on 10-May-02
Positive Affect Negative Affect Life Satisfaction Self-referenced judgements A comparative measure - self and others. Happiness - What is it?Adult Tripartite Models
Children’s happiness – Do we know... • to what degree happiness is affected by adverse experience, such as being bullied? Do any effects lessen with time? • how happiness is related to a teacher’s perceptions of children's emotions concentration and behaviour?
The measure - ‘sCHI’ Children's Happiness Index • low reading age • simple response format • balanced positive and negative items • items designed to cover children from 8 to 15 years
Children’s happiness - the influence of time and place • Shared context - shared influences • Recent time frame - the previous week
sCHI - Properties as a measure: Reliability Test-Retest: n49, r = .722, p<.000, 2-tailed, 13 day interval n97, r = .540, p<.000, 2-tailed, 10 mth interval Alpha: n390, = .876 n785 pilot, = .882
sCHI - Concurrent ValiditySEM model: Proxy SWB as a predictor of sCHIGoodness of fit summary Probability value for the chi-square statistic = 0.47 Bentler-Bonett nonnormed fit index (NNFI) = 1.01 Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 1.00 s s s
sCHI - Concurrent ValiditySEM model: Proxy SWB as a predictor of sCHI sCHI+ Self-Esteem SWB sCHI Depression 90% Affect sCHI-
What is Bullying? Definitions of bullying Most definitions include : • Repetitive-prolonged over time • An imbalance of power • May be verbal, physical or social (Some also include –causes distress)
Teachers’ Evaluations of Pupil Emotional, Behaviour and Social Difficulties using the SDQ • Group 1 = Not Bullied • Group 2 = Bullied • Group 3 = Bully/Victims • Group 4 = Bullies
Teachers’ Evaluations of Pupils’ Prosocial skills using the SDQ • Group 1 = Not Bullied • Group 2 = Bullied • Group 3 = Bully/Victims • Group 4 = Bullies
sCHI - Predictive Validity -Effects of Being Bullied on Happiness (sCHI) over TimeCFI = 1 NNFI = .99 2 = .35 N95 s s s
sCHI - Predictive Validity -Effects of Being Bullied on Happiness (CHI) over Time Bullied t1 6% 26% Bullied t2 sCHI t2 36%
sCHI & Covariates No significant group differences on: • Gender • Ethnicity • Lie/Social Desirability
The Association of CHI with Teacher-rated Pupils’ Strengths & Difficulties s
Happiness and Positive Psychology “The new field of Positive Psychology is about how normal people might flourish under benign conditions – the thriving individual and the thriving community. Positive Psychology changes the focus of psychology from preoccupation with repairing the worst things in life to building the best things in life.” <http://www.psych.upenn.edu/seligman/summit2001schedule.htm>
What next? • What promotes children’s happiness? • How does children’s happiness influence : behaviour, learning, relationships?