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

• Pentz, Carliann J. ^[1] ; Rojas, Daniel ^[2] ; McCoy, Michael B. ^[3] ; Vaughan, Christopher S. ^[4]
  1. [1] Lake Forest College, Illinois
  2. [2] Social Sciences Research Coordinator, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Costa Rican Office
  3. [3] Natural Sciences Research Coordinator, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Costa Rican Office
  4. [4] Program Director, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Costa Rican Office

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• Localización: Research journal of the Costa Rican Distance Education University: Cuadernos de Investigación UNED, ISSN-e 1659-4266, ISSN 1659-441X, Vol. 5, Nº. 1, 2013, págs. 163-170
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
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• Resumen
  • español

    La investigación del fenómeno de la “simpatía” latinoamericana ha identificado muchas características relacionadas, como amabilidad y una actitud positiva. Sin embargo, pocas investigaciones han medido los niveles de felicidad y satisfacción en estas comunidades, particularmente en Costa Rica. Esta investigación midió los niveles de felicidad en marzo y abril de 2012 en San Ramón, Costa Rica. Creamos cuestionarios para medir los niveles de felicidad, y los distribuimos a 197 participantes (104 hombres, 92 mujeres). El cuestionario validado tiene homogeneidad con el cuestionario creado por nosotros (P<0,00001). Hubo mayor relación de la felicidad con la “buena salud” (=4,73) y la “comunicación familiar” (=4,58). En cambio, hubo poca relación con “la cantidad de dinero ganado por mes” (=3,49) y el  “tener cosas materiales” (=3,49) (P<0,05). Tuvo mucho menos valor el “tener un ejército nacional” (=1,73) que el “vivir rodeado por la naturaleza” (=4,62). Muchos participantes no  apoyan la idea de la homosexualidad, y aunque hay apoyo a los derechos de ambos sexos, el apoyo es mayor en las mujeres (P=0,0004). PALABRAS CLAVECosta Rica, la comunicación en la familia, la buena salud, los niveles de felicidad, ingresos, posesiones materiales,  simpatía

  • English

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