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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

positive psychology, holistic determinants, testosterone treatment, veterans

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Abstract

In this study I design a survey instrument and construct a data panel from the responses of a sample of US veterans. As part of the survey, I estimate the level of happiness each veteran exhibits using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. The Oxford scale consists of 29 questions and uses a Likert scale that ranges from a low of one to a high of six. The average is typically around 4.3 (Hills and Argyle, 2002). The average happiness score for my sample of 76 veterans is 3.73. After measuring the happiness level, I ask 30 additional questions driven by the literature to determine the factors of veteran happiness. Next, I conduct Spearman Correlation tests, t-tests for equality of sample mean divided on the median of the happiness score, and a multivariate ordinary least squares model with all of the explanatory factors. I find significance for: four holistic happiness variables (faking happiness (+), spending money on loved ones (-), listening to music often (+), and using technology often (-)); one demographic variable (Age (+)); six military-related variables (active duty service (+), years of service (-), months deployed (-), service in Iraq (+), Afghanistan (+), Korea (+)); and two intervention variables (psychotherapy (-), exercise (+)). Testosterone treatment is not statistically significant.

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