A case study in Costa Rica about personal happiness: Does health and family communication have more influence than quantity of money and material goods?

A case study in Costa Rica about personal happiness: Does health and family communication have more influence than quantity of money and material goods?

Authors

  • Carliann J. Pentz Lake Forest College, Illinois
  • Daniel Rojas Social Sciences Research Coordinator, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Costa Rican Office
  • Michael B. McCoy Natural Sciences Research Coordinator, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Costa Rican Office
  • Christopher S. Vaughan Program Director, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Costa Rican Office

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v5i1.214

Abstract

From extensive research on the phenomenom of “simpatía”, known as a relationship or an affinity between people or things in which whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other, in Latin American countries, many characteristics, such as friendliness and a positive attitude, have been identified. However, despite such positive attitudes, very few studies measured levels of happiness and satisfaction in these communities, specifically Costa Rica. This study measured happiness levels during March-April 2012 in San Ramón, Costa Rica. Created questionnaires measuring happiness levels were distributed to 197 participants (104 M, 92 F, 1 Unknown).   A validated questionnaire showed homogeneity to our created questionnaire (P<0,0001).  Mean responses relating happiness to “good health” (=4,73) and “family communication” (= 4,58) were greater than responses of “quantity of money made each month” (= 3,49) or “owning material goods” (= 3,49) (P<0,05).  Mean responses of “having a national army” (= 1,73) were smaller than responses to “living in nature” (= 4,62). On terms of gender and sexuality rights, most participants did not support the idea of homosexuality, and while equal gender rights was supported, more women than men felt happier by this concept (P=0,0004). The major limitation for this study was limited time, area, and the number of participants.

KEY WORDS

Costa Rica, family communication, good health, happiness levels, income levels, material possessions,  simpatía

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Published

2013-05-22

How to Cite

Pentz, C. J., Rojas, D., McCoy, M. B., & Vaughan, C. S. (2013). A case study in Costa Rica about personal happiness: Does health and family communication have more influence than quantity of money and material goods?. UNED Research Journal, 5(1), 163–170. https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v5i1.214

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Articles

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