Measuring Subjective Happiness and Life Satisfaction among Jamaicans during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Priscian Vassell Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Kimberly Brown Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Kimberly Cooke Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Chadine Pryce Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI
  • Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Caroline McLean Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Dian Russell- Parkes Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Monique White Scholarship and Student Aid, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Tabitha Muchee Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

Abstract

Introduction: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted human happiness and life satisfaction. During the pandemic, many governments implemented social distancing rules to curb the spread of the virus. A higher percentage of mental disorders and negative experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted individuals' subjective happiness and life satisfaction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if the COVID-19 pandemic influences the level of happiness and life satisfaction among Jamaicans.

Methods & Materials: A non-probability sampling with a sample size of 1067 participants, which included male and female Jamaicans over 18 years old from the 14 parishes based on the Jamaican population from Statin 2019 using a 3% margin of error.

Discussion: The findings showed that most respondents are happy (67.9%) compared to unhappy (13.7%), with 17.4% moderately happy. Of the sampled respondents (n=1,068), 11.5% (n=123) of them are extremely happy compared to 0.8% (n=9) being least happy.Life satisfaction and selected demographic characteristics can linearly influence the subjective happiness of Jamaicans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: Analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on happiness is complex. However, emerging research supports the results of this current study. Findings from this research may increase the public's awareness about happiness and life satisfaction. These results may facilitate measures that the government and other entities interested in life satisfaction and happiness among the people during the pandemic could take to address decreased happiness.

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Published

2022-01-21

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2022): International Journal of Humanities & Social Science: Insights & Transformations [ISSN: 2581-3587]

Section

Articles