TY - JOUR
T1 - Searching for Happiness
T2 - The Importance of Social Capital
AU - Leung, Ambrose
AU - Kier, Cheryl
AU - Fung, Tak
AU - Fung, Linda
AU - Sproule, Robert
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - After four decades of research, scholars of happiness continue to debate its causes. While it is generally agreed that a combination of internal and external factors play a role, predicting happiness well remains a challenge. Recent research has proposed that social capital may be a vital factor that has been overlooked. This paper attempts to address that omission. According to Coleman's (1988) seminal work, three dimensions of social capital exist: (1) trust and obligations, (2) information channels, and (3) norms and sanctions. Using bootstrap hierarchical regression on data from the Canadian General Social Survey of Social Engagement Cycle 17 (2003), we identified blocks of social capital variables described by Coleman, as well as an additional factor of belongingness. Even after controlling for major demographic and individual characteristics, the majority of these blocks show significant relationships with happiness. Our findings support social capital as an important piece in predicting happiness.
AB - After four decades of research, scholars of happiness continue to debate its causes. While it is generally agreed that a combination of internal and external factors play a role, predicting happiness well remains a challenge. Recent research has proposed that social capital may be a vital factor that has been overlooked. This paper attempts to address that omission. According to Coleman's (1988) seminal work, three dimensions of social capital exist: (1) trust and obligations, (2) information channels, and (3) norms and sanctions. Using bootstrap hierarchical regression on data from the Canadian General Social Survey of Social Engagement Cycle 17 (2003), we identified blocks of social capital variables described by Coleman, as well as an additional factor of belongingness. Even after controlling for major demographic and individual characteristics, the majority of these blocks show significant relationships with happiness. Our findings support social capital as an important piece in predicting happiness.
KW - Happiness
KW - Information channel
KW - Obligations
KW - Social capital
KW - Trust
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955070488&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10902-010-9208-8
DO - 10.1007/s10902-010-9208-8
M3 - Journal Article
AN - SCOPUS:79955070488
SN - 1389-4978
VL - 12
SP - 443
EP - 462
JO - Journal of Happiness Studies
JF - Journal of Happiness Studies
IS - 3
ER -