Self-perceived happiness and associated factors in adults in a southern Brazilian city: a population-based study

This study investigated self-perceived happiness and associated factors in inhabitants from a Southern Brazilian city. A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out with 2,942 individuals aged 20 years old and over. Self-perceived happiness was defined as the degree to which a person positively evaluates the overall quality of his/her present life as a whole. It was estimated through a single question using a "smiley scale". The prevalence of self-perceived happiness was 73.4% and it was positively associated with educational attainment and economic level, although it was negatively associated with unemployment. Young men and religious women also showed higher prevalences of happiness. Among women, being separated/divorced or widowed was associated with a lower prevalence of happiness. Results showed that the studied population presents high prevalence of self-perceived happiness. Distinct factors are also associated with happiness, according to the participants' gender.

Happiness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Socioeconomic Factors