Happiness among Women The Role of Employment Status and Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

Happiness is a multifaceted attribute comprising various interpretations and manifestations. Different methods have been used to describe it and ascertain its sources. There has been an emergence of neuroscientific proof that feelings of happiness exist in a measurable and comparable form which better justifies the study of happiness as a scientific discipline, as opposed to pseudo-science. Since happiness is a science, it can be measured and investigated experientially with definitive results. Psychologist all over the world have realized the importance of studying happiness among women as society cannot develop without improving the psychological well-being of women. Employment status and emotional intelligence are two of the important determinants of happiness. Employment meets important psychosocial needs in societies, and it is central to individual identity, social roles and social status which enhance happiness among women. Happiness makes a woman strong enough to deal with all the negative circumstances, enhances life satisfaction, resilience, and self-esteem. Women with high emotional intelligence experience more positive affect and less negative affect, thus resulting in higher satisfaction with life. newlineThe primary purpose of the present investigation is to examine the role of employment status and emotional intelligence (EI) in determining happiness of women. The preset study adopted a 2 (employed versus unemployed) x 2 (low emotional intelligence versus high emotional intelligence) factorial design. The objectives were to empirically examine the role of employment status on happiness of women, to examine the role of emotional intelligence on happiness of women, and to find out the relation between happiness, optimism, and self-esteem of women. newline