Predictors of Happiness and Life Satisfaction among University Teacher-Trainees on Internship
Abstract
The study investigated the factors that drive happiness and life satisfaction among university teacher trainees on school practice internship. It was a purely qualitative study that employed explorative methods and a phenomenological design because it dealt with the subjective experiences about happiness and life satisfaction during internship as a phenomenon. It was conducted on a population of 25 participants drawn from a total population of about 700 teacher trainees on internship placement. The respondents were selected using both purposive and convenient sampling technique. These methods were preferred because purposively, the respondents were teacher trainees on internship and conveniently, they were under the supervision of the corresponding author. Data was collected using in depth interviews and analysed using themes and narratives drawn from the transcribed data. Results’ presentation, analysis and discussions was done concurrently. The findings revealed that happiness and life satisfaction among teacher trainees on internship school practice placement is determined by economic and financial drivers, supervision processes, collegial social support and connections, student or learner attributes, logistical provisions and follow up factors. As a result of the findings, universities invested in teacher training and schools hosting internship teacher trainees are required to boost the university-based and school-based factors in order to promote happiness and life satisfaction among the trainees respectively through provision of teaching practice logistics, supervisor support and evaluation, student/learner discipline, as conditions aimed at enhancing happiness, for the end goals of academic achievement
Downloads
References
Aagyle, M., & Lu L. (1990). The Happiness of Extraverts. Personality and Individual Differences, 11 (10), 1011-1017.
Argyle, M. (2001). The Psychology of happiness. Routledge: New York.
Aghamoh ammadi M, Asgari S. (2016). The relationship between personality characteristics and emotional intelligence and academic performance at the students of medical sciences the Alborz province. Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal. 9(2):715-22. https://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bpj/994
Alhebaishi, S. M. (2019). Investigation of EFL Student Teachers' Emotional Responses to Affective Situations during Practicum. European Journal of Educational Research, 8(4), 1201-1215.
Al-Naggar, R. A., Al-Jashamy, K. A., Low, W. Y., Isa, Z. M., Alsaror, M. I., & Al-Naggar, A. G. A. (2010). Perceptions and opinion of happiness among university students in a Malaysian university. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 11(2), 198-205.
Baumeister, R. F., Campbell, J. D., Krueger, J. I., & Vohs, K. D. (2003). Does high self-esteem cause better performance, interpersonal success, happiness, or healthier lifestyles? Psychological science in the public interest, 4(1), 1-44.
Baumgardner, S. R., & Crothers, M. K. (2012). Chapter 2 in Positive Psychology in Let’s talk about Positive Psychology complied by Nel, L. Pearson Custom Publishing.
Bekkouche, N. S. (2024). Masters students’ satisfaction with academic supervision and experiences of mental and emotional distress and wellbeing. Journal of American College Health, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2361308
Blum, K., Chen, A. L., Chen, T. J., Bowirrat, A., Downs, B. W., Waite, R. L., & Savarimuthu, S. (2009). Genes and happiness. Gene Therapy and Molecular Biology, 13, 91-129.
Campbell, J.D.: 1990, Self-esteem and clarity of the self-concept, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 59, 538–549.
Campbell S, Greenwood M, Prior S, et al., (2020). Purposive sampling: complex or simple? Research case examples. Journal of Research in Nursing. 25(8), 652-661. 10.1177/1744987120927206
Cast, A. D., & Burke, P. J. (2002). A theory of self-esteem. Social Forces, 80, 1041-1068.
Celen, K. M., & Akcan, S. (2017). Evaluation of an ELT practicum programme from the perspectives of supervisors, student teachers and graduates. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 6(3), 251-274.
Chakraborty, B., Maji, S., Sen, A. et al. A Study on Happiness and Related Factors among Indian College Students. J. Quant. Econ. 17, 215–236 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40953-018-0125-8
Chen, W., Mason, S., Staniszewski, C., Upton, A., & Valley, M. (2012). Assessing the quality of teachers’ teaching practices. Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability, 24, 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11092-011-9134-2
Cheng H, Furnham A (2004). Perceived parental rearing style, self-esteem and self-criticism as predictors of happiness. J Happiness Stud. 5(1), 1–21. doi:10.1023/B:JOHS.0000021704.35267.05
Cohen, L., Manion, L., Morrison, K., & Wyse, D. (2010). A guide to teaching practice. Routledge.
Denton, J. J., & Peters, W. H. (1988). Program Assessment Report Curriculum Evaluation of a Non-traditional Program for Certifying Teachers.
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Diener E, Diener M.(1999) Cross-cultural correlates of life satisfaction and self-esteem. J Pers Soc Psychol, 69(1):120–129. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.69.1.120
Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective wellbeing: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276-302.
Dogan, T., Totan, T., & Sapmaz, F. (2013). The role of self-esteem, psychological well-being, emotional self-efficacy, and affect balance on happiness: A path model. European Scientific Journal, 9(20).
Emerson, R. W. (2015). Convenience sampling, random sampling, and snowball sampling: How does sampling affect the validity of research? Journal of visual impairment & blindness, 109(2), 164-168. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X1510900215
Emerson, R. W. (2021). Convenience Sampling Revisited: Embracing Its Limitations Through Thoughtful Study Design. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 115(1), 76-77. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X20987707
Ersanli, C. Y (2015). The Relationship between Students’ Academic Self-efficacy and Language Learning Motivation: A Study of 8th Graders, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences,Volume 199, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.534.
Eysenck, H. J. (1990). Genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences: The three major dimensions of personality. Journal of personality, 58(1), 245-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1990.tb00915.x
Farrokhi, F., & Mahmoudi-Hamidabad, A. (2012). Rethinking convenience sampling: Defining quality criteria. Theory & Practice in Language Studies (TPLS), 2(4). doi:10.4304/tpls.2.4.784-792
FitzPatrick, B. (2019). Validity in qualitative health education research. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 11(2), 211-217.
Foo, Z., & Prihadi, K. D. (2021). Happiness of university students in new normal Malaysia: The role of mattering, optimism, and social support. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(2), 448-454. DOI: 10.11591/ijere.v10i2.21138
Franklin, C., & Ballan, M. (2001). Reliability and validity in qualitative research. The handbook of social work research methods, 4, 273-292.
Furnham, A. & C. Brewin. (1990). Personality and Indian Journal of Social Science Researches Vol. 7, 1 March, 2010, pp1-8 ISSN: 0974-9837 Research Movement: Past, Present and Future. Social Indicators Research, 76, pp. 343-466.
Furnham, A., & Cheng, H. (2000). Perceived parental behaviour, self-esteem and happiness. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 35, 463–470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001270050265
Furnham A, & Irene C. H. (2007). Personality traits, emotional intelligence, and multiple happiness. N Am J Psychol, 9(3), 439-62.
Garousi Farshi MT, Mehriar AM, Tabatabai MG. (2001). The use of neo personality test and analysis of features and its factor structure among Iranian university students J Hum Res Alzahra. 2001; 11(39):173-98.
Giorgi, A. (2017). A response to the attempted critique of the scientific phenomenological method. Journal of phenomenological psychology, 48(1), 83-144.
Gray RS, Chamratrithirong A, Pattaravanich U, Prasartkul P. Happiness among adolescent students in Thailand: Family and non-family factors. Soc Indicat Res. 110(2), 703-19. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24718730
Ghahramani, S., Jahromi, A. T., Khoshsoroor, D., Seifooripour, R., & Sepehrpoor, M. (2019). The relationship between emotional intelligence and happiness in medical students. Korean Journal of Medical Education, 31(1), 29. doi: 10.3946/kjme.2019.116
FitzPatrick, B. (2019). Validity in qualitative health education research. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 11(2), 211-217.
Hayes N, Stephen J. Big 5 correlates of three measures of subjective well-being. J Pers Individ Dif. 34 (4), 723-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00057-0
Hoepfl, M. C. (1997). Choosing qualitative research: A primer for technology education researchers.
Iisager, H. (1948). Factors Contributing to Happiness among Danish College Students. The Journal of Social Psychology, 28(2), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1948.9921770
Iradel, C. M., Cadosales, M. N. Q., & Perez, N. (2021). Lived experience of teaching interns during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Research, Policy & Practice of Teachers and Teacher Education, 11(2), 74-87. https://doi.org/10.37134/jrpptte.vol11.2.6.2021
Kalhori RP, Ziapour A, Kianipour N, Foroughinia A. (2017). A study of the relationship between lifestyle and happiness of students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences over Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2017; 10(4):1004-09. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ATMPH.ATMPH_310_17
Kasser, T., Sheldon, K.M.(2009) Time Affluence as a Path toward Personal Happiness and Ethical Business Practice: Empirical Evidence from Four Studies. J Bus Ethics 84 (Suppl 2), 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9696-1
Kesebir, P., & Diener, E. (2008). In Defense of Happiness: Why. Capabilities and Happiness, 60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6916.2008.00069.x
Khosla, M., & Dokania, V. (2010). Does happiness promote emotional intelligence? Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 36(1), 45-54.
Khosroshahi, J. B., Abad, T. H. N., & Abassi, N. M. (2013). The relationship between personality traits, emotional intelligence and happiness among university students. Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, 16(6). e77339
Kiggundu, E. M., & Nayimuli, S. T. (2009). Teaching practice: A make or break phase for student teachers. South African Journal of Education, 29(3). 10.15700/saje.v29n3a129
Kirk, B. A., Schutte, N. S., & Hine, D. W. (2008). Development and preliminary validation of an emotional self-efficacy scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(5), 432-436.
Livni, D., Crowe, T. P., & Gonsalvez, C. J. (2012). Effects of supervision modality and intensity on alliance and outcomes for the supervisee. Rehabilitation psychology, 57(2), 178.
Lu, L., & Shih, J. B. (1997). Personality and happiness: Is mental health a mediator?. Personality and individual differences, 22(2), 249-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(96)00187-0
Lu, L. (1999). Personal or environmental causes of happiness: A longitudinal study. Journal of Social Psychology, 139, 79–90.
Mahmoodi, H., Nadrian, H., Javid, F., Ahmadi, G., Kasravi, R., Chavoshi, M., & Golmohammadi, F. (2019). Factors associated with happiness among college students: do academic self-efficacy and stress predict happiness? International Journal of Happiness and Development, 5(1), 14-24. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJHD.2019.098048
Michalos, A. C. (1986). An application of Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) to seniors. Social Indicators Research, 18, 349-373. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300488
Moran, D. (2002). Introduction to phenomenology. Routledge.
Moran, J.M, Rain M, Page-Gould E, Mar RA. (2013) Do I amuse you? Asymmetric predictors for humor appreciation and humor production. J Res Person, 49:8–13. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2013.12.002
Morán-Pallero, N., & Felipe-Castaño, E. (2021). Self-concept in social networks and its relation to the affect in adolescents. Behavioral Psychology/Psicología Conductual, 29(3).
Miret M, Caballero FF, Chatterji S, Olaya B, Tobiasz-Adamczyk B, Koskinen, S. (2014). Health and happiness: cross-sectional household surveys in Finland, Poland and Spain. Bull World Health Organ. 92(10), 716-25. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.13.129254
Myers, D. G., & Diener, E. (1995). Who is happy? Psychological Science, 6(1), l0-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1995.tb00298.x
Myers, D. G. (2002). The pursuit of happiness: Discovering the pathway to fulfilment, wellbeing, and enduring personal joy. New York: HarperCollins.
Nabirye, E. (2023). Self-esteem, emotional intelligence and happiness among secondary school adolescents in Wakiso District (Masters Dissertation, Makerere University).
Nauffal, D. A. D., & Sbeity, R. (2013). The role of perceived social support in predicting subjective well-being in Lebanese college students. Happiness & Well-Being, 1, 121-134.
Nes, R. B. (2024). Happiness and Behavior Genetics. In Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research (pp. 2903-2909). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_4122
Okeju, J. (2023). Internal locus of control, self–esteem and life satisfaction among secondary school students in Katakwi District (Masters Dissertation, Makerere University).
Parducci, A. (1995). Happiness, Pleasure, and Judgment: The Contextual Theory and its Applications. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ, US.
Parducci, A. (1995). Happiness, Pleasure, and Judgment: The Contextual Theory and its Applications. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ, US.
Pekrun, R. (2007). Emotions in students’ scholastic development. The scholarship of teaching and learning in higher education: An evidence-based perspective, 553-610.
Roberts, B. W., & Chapman, C. N. (2000). Change in dispositional well-being and its relation to role quality: A 30-year longitudinal study. Journal of Research in Personality, 34, 26–41. https://doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.1999.2259
Ryff, C.D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069– 1081.
Salary S, Shaieri MR. Study of the relationship between happiness and dimensions of psychosis, neurosis and personality extraversion. Proc Soc Behav Sci. 84, 1143-48. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1136
Salavera, C., Usán, P., & Teruel, P. (2020). The mediating role of positive and negative effects in the relationship between self-esteem and happiness. Psychology research and behavior management, 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1136
Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihaly, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An Introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5-14.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new Positive Psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment London: Nicholas Brealey
Simsek O. Structural relations of personal and collective self-esteem to subjective well-being: attachment as moderator. Soc Indic Res. 2013; 110(1):219–236. doi: 10.1007/s11205-011-9927-1
Snyder, C. R., & Lopez, S. J. (Eds.). (2002). Handbook of Positive Psychology. London, Oxford University Press
Staats, S.R., Stassen, M.A. (1985). Hope: An affective cognition. Social Indicators Research 17, 235–242. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319312
Strobel M, Tumasjan A, Spörrle M. Be yourself, believe in yourself, and be happy: self-efficacy as a mediator between personality factors and subjective well-being. Scand J Psychol. 2011; 52(1):43-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.2010.00826.x
Suralaga, F., & Rohmah, H. N. (2021). Self-Esteem, Tawakal, and Social Support: Its Effect on Student Happiness. Psychology and Education, 58(1), 5430-5435
van de Weijer, M. P., de Vries, L. P., & Bartels, M. (2022). Happiness and well-being: The value and findings from genetic studies. In Twin research for everyone (pp. 295-322). Academic Press.
van Zyl, Y., & Dhurup, M. (2018). Self-efficacy and its relationship with satisfaction with life and happiness among university students. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 28(5), 389-393. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2018.1528760
Weiss A, Bates T.C, & Luciano M. (2008). Happiness is a personal (ity) thing: The genetics of personality and well-being in a representative sample. Psychol Sci.19(3), 205-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02068.x
Wilson, W. (1967). Correlates of happiness. Psychological Bulletin 67, 294–306
Xiao, J. J., Tang, C., & Shim, S. (2009). Acting for happiness: Financial behavior and life satisfaction of college students. Social indicators research, 92, 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9288-6
Yip JA, Martin RA. (2005). Sense of humor, emotional intelligence, and social competence. J Res Person. 40(6):1202–1220. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2005.08.005
Ziapour, A., Khatony, A., Jafari, F., & Kianipour, N. (2018). Correlation of Personality Traits with Happiness among University Students. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, 12(4). DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2018/31260.11450
Copyright (c) 2024 Loyce Kiiza Kobusingye, PhD, John Okeju
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
