Student happiness and its relationship to demographic, socio-economic factors

Abstract

Abstract: This article presents an overview and analysis of research findings on the demographic and socio-economic factors that influence students' happiness. The results show that students tend to report lower levels of happiness when they belong to vulnerable groups or have lower socio-economic resources and conditions (e.g., female, ethnic minorities, low standard of living, living in rural areas). On the other hand, students are happier when they live in households with both parents and where there are cohesion, love, and mutual respect among family members. These findings provide insights for families, schools, and the government to develop approaches and arguments to reduce inequality and effectively maintain and enhance student happiness, with a particular focus on disadvantaged student groups.