Speaker:　Prof. Uichol Kim, Ph.D.　
　　　　　 College of Business Administration 
　　　　　  Inha University, Korea
Time:　　  14:00pm - 16:00pm
Date:　　　Oct 22 (Mon), 2012
Venue:　    Lecture Hall, North Building

Abstract:
Can money buy happiness? If not, what are the factors that influence happiness, health and long life? These are the research questions that led to the analyses of psychological, relational, social, financial and cultural resources that influence happiness, health and long life. In the first part of the presentation, a review of factors influencing happiness, health and long life will be presented. In the second part, a review of empirical studies conducted in Asia will be presented. In the third part, to investigate this issue systematically, an empirical study was conducted to examine influence of income and socio-economic status among students, adults and elderly between the ages of 20 through 80 living in three different districts. First, monthly income influence happiness to some extent, but when the variable was excluded from the path analysis, the goodness-of-fit did not change significantly. Although those who have more money can be slightly happier, those without much money can also be happy. These results indicate that financial resource has limited influence on happiness. Second, monthly income did influence self-efficacy of respondents indicating that those with more money were slightly more confident about themselves. Third, an important factor influencing happiness is the relational resource: Emotional support was the most powerful predictor of happiness, four to five times more important than monthly income. Fourth, those respondents with higher resiliency of efficacy had higher happiness scores and the influence was two times greater than monthly income. Moreover, self-efficacy played a mediating role between emotional support and happiness. Fifth, those respondents with higher occupational achievement reported higher happiness score and the influence was two times greater than monthly income. Sixth, success of children influenced happiness score and the influence was 1.5 times greater than monthly income. Seventh, education did not directly influence happiness, but had an indirect influence through self-efficacy and occupational achievement. Similar pattern of results were obtained for stress, health and life-satisfaction. This study, along with the review of the literature, indicate that at the individual level self-confidence, emotional support and harmonious relationships are important factors and at the societal level, trust, community viability and cultural integrity are important predictors of happiness, health and long life.

Attachment: 
　  Factor influencing happiness, health and long life: Psychological, social and cultural perspectives. (.doc)