A Study on the Relevance of Happiness

Amidst the Pandemic

Among Teenagers and Adults

Alzona, James Ryan

Amodia, Kathleen Alexis

Alinsob, Stephanie

Almario, Ian Dexter

Ms. Madelle-Loredo Abuyo

 INTRODUCTION

In the latest IPSOS survey on global happiness (2020), 6 in 10 adults across the 27

countries that were surveyed say that they are happy, but the truth is that it does not manifest

among all demographics and genders across the world, especially in the Philippines, with the

rising percentage in inflation that skyrocketed to 4.2% last January 2021 compared to the last

month of 2020 that was down at 3.5% (Philippine Statistics Authority,2021), the unemployment

rate and the different economic issues that are still prevailing in the country, due to the pandemic

that has ravaged through the parts of the globe for the past year. Many Filipinos are left

unsatisfied with their lives and the way the pandemic was handled by the government.

According to researchers Kim-Prieto et al. (2005), there are three ways to how happiness

is approached and defined: a way to globally assess life and all its facets, that includes the

physical, mental, psychological, and economic aspects of a person’s life, a psychological way of

recollecting past experiences which are deemed important to a person’s life, and as an

aggregation of multiple emotional reactions over time, which could manifest due to enjoyable or

traumatic experiences that they have felt throughout their lives, but it is still difficult to

quantitatively assess the scope of happiness or to what extent does it affect a person especially

now that we are still at the grasp of a global pandemic.

The study entitled: “A Study on the Relevance of Happiness Amidst the Pandemic Among

Teenagers and Adults,” conducted by first-year Management Accounting and Marketing

Management students of the Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna aims to qualitatively address

how this pandemic has affected the different aspects of a life of ordinary students and adults, that

is tied with their state of happiness. It is as important to solve this withstanding problem to fully

understand the damage this pandemic has done to a person’s physical, psychological and mental
framework, because some people still discredit the consequences of this pandemic in terms of the

person’s inability to cope up with the situation, thus developing different mental health

conditions researchers deemed as the most damaging consequence of the pandemic that has led

to a rising number of suicides in the U.S.A.

The researchers have interviewed students and adults in qualitatively finding patterns

among their answers, and in comparing a student’s response compared to an adult’s response,

based on the questions that are comprised of the different aspects of a person’s life namely:

physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and social aspects of life. This interview was done in

a virtual setup and is adherent to the ethical standards of researching informed consent.

This study can give a broader perspective as to how happiness is important in maintaining

an optimistic attitude through the pandemic. It can also give a new perspective of how people

have dealt with the pandemic and how they have coped up during isolation and lockdown.

Lastly, it will also give a clearer picture as to how this pandemic has affected the different

aspects of a person’s life.

OBJECTIVES
 To ensure the success of the study through establishing a careful set of objectives, the

researchers have identified these as their objectives:

1. To identify if happiness is still relevant during this pandemic among students and

adults

2. To compare the state of happiness of a student and an adult based on the responses

given in the interview that is based on the different aspects of a human being

3. To understand as to how the pandemic has affected the different aspects of a person’s

life which in turn affects their state of happiness in terms of:

a. Physical Aspect

b. Mental Aspect

c. Psychological Aspect

d. Emotional Aspect

e. Social Aspect

4. To evaluate the most effective coping mechanisms that these people have used to

cope up with the pandemic and to stay happy and optimistic throughout the past few

months
 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This section presents background in which this study is based upon. It is categorically

divided into two parts: theories and studies.

Theories

Hedonism Theory

This theory is emphasized in Jeremy Bentham’s book An Introduction to the Principles of

Morals and Legislation (1789), which states that nature has put us within two ends, pleasure and

pain, and our happiness depends on the maximization of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

Relating to the pandemic, humans want to feel pleasure in the things that they do during this

crisis and avoid stressful situations that can cause emotional pain.

Desire Theory

This theory states that a person’s happiness depends if they can get what they want

(Griffin, 1986). This is dependent upon the person’s mental capacity and goal-setting abilities.

Relating to the pandemic, a person who wants to achieve their goals, especially students who

want to strive for academic excellence, may experience happiness if they have met these

expectations, but too much of this desire can lead to psychological disorders if they cannot meet

these.

Objective List Theory

This theory states that happiness can be best achieved through a list of worthwhile

pursuits (Nussbaum, 1992; Sen, 1985). This means that a person can achieve happiness based on

the things that are deemed valuable to him and want to achieve in the future. This has the same

concept as desire theory, but this is a more objective look at finding happiness, devoid of any
subjective feelings.

Studies

Physical

According to a study conducted by Bowie et. Al (2018), who studied African American

men, aged 18 years old and above, that there is a correlation between physical health, especially

in developing an immunity to prevent diseases, and a happy attitude towards life. It means that

people who have displayed positive emotions and happiness in their life, and who have rated

their self-related physical health in the upper percentile of the participants have drastically

improved their overall individual health and their risk for mild and severe diseases. However,

this can vary among demographics and different criteria like marital status, the status of

employment, etc. Its relevance during this period is significant and impactful because the

pandemic can negatively affect the overall health condition of an individual, that is caused by a

limited capability to exercise due to health restrictions outside of the house, which can lead to an

unsatisfactory feeling from the individual because he/she has gained a significant amount of

weight.

A decline in the physical well-being of a person can also be caused by different

economic, environmental, and mental situations during the pandemic. In an opinion article

released by health professors Clarke, Stewart & Whitely (2020), which was presented through a

graph, a person’s health can be influenced by the state of the economy, their mental capacity to

make decisions, and the environment in which they live in. All of these can affect the physical

well-being and happiness of a person. The state of the economy and economic inequality is a

prevalent issue that worries employed adults, while students worry about their mental capacity to
make decisions on their schools and in their future career path.

Mental

Decision making is an important facet of a person’s mental well-being and deciding

correctly can lead to a sense of satisfaction and happiness, especially if these decisions are

included in their goals. Al-Dabbagh (2020) studied the impact of the pandemic on a person's

decision making. His study showed that the process on how people decide during this crisis is

through analytical comparison of the choices and alternatives, which can lead to the

accomplishment of their goals, thus giving them the satisfaction and happiness that they want.

Decision-making is an important mental concept among human beings that can lead them to the

accomplishment of their goals.

Taking care of a person’s mental health is fundamental in staying mentally and

emotionally tough during this crisis. a journal entitled Journal of Affective Disorders by Agostini

et al. (2020) at Elsevier stressed that people who have worse self-mental health have a higher-

risk perception, which is mostly triggered by emotional thoughts and negative emotions. This

pandemic has given us mental and emotional exhaustion, which can affect our mental health, so

taking care of this can help us cope up with the situation that we are in and survive the ravaging

pandemic.

Psychological

Students have been psychologically challenged during this pandemic. A study conducted

by Baloch et al. (2020) at Prince Sultan University, regarding the effects of the pandemic among

university students in Malaysia, suggested that 29.8% of their respondents have experienced
minimal to severe anxiety levels during the pandemic. Some of the stressors that can cause high

anxiety among the participants were financial constraints, academic performance, and career

uncertainty, which are also currently experienced by the students in the Philippines. Some of the

coping mechanisms that they have used are minimizing digital information consumption about

COVID-19, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, connecting with your relatives and friends virtually,

and relaxing by doing your hobbies.

Adults can also be targets of psychological distress, which was highlighted in the study of

Joiner & Twenge (2020) that showed one out of four adults have experienced mental and

psychological disorders in April 2020, which is eight times more than the number of mental

health disorders last 2018, and these are most evident among young adults, married individuals,

and parents, because of the different economic and financial issues among households. This

horrifying statistic has a huge implication for the psychological well-being and mental health of

adults, including mental coping mechanisms, treatment, and accessibility. This study can be

correlated also among adults in the Philippines as they suffer the same path as U.S. adults in

terms of job security and other economic factors that were affected by the pandemic.

Emotional

The shocking onset of the virus has played a huge part in the emotional well-being of a

person. Ma & Yang (2020), in their study on emotional well-being, highlighted that the onset of

the coronavirus pandemic has led to a 74 percent drop in emotional well-being, which is

exacerbated by the different external and internal situations that are happening around them. To

combat these, the study also suggests that humans need to be more knowledgeable in the current

pandemic to feel a sense of security and happiness. This means that (1) a drop in emotional well-

being suggests that people have experienced a sudden feeling of loneliness and isolation from
others and (2) traditional and digital media can negatively affect the happiness of a person

especially today.

Personality Traits can also affect emotional-well-being and the state of happiness,

especially neuroticism. Gubler et al. (2020), in a journal entitled Journal of Happiness Studies,

pointed neuroticism or the tendency to lean on depression and anxiety, and emotional regulation

strategies as the traits that can affect emotional well-being, which can lead to loneliness. The

strict lockdown and isolation have led people to lean more towards developing mental health

disorders and negative thoughts because of the limitation on their freedom to go outside. It can

be related as to how Filipinos feel as they normally flood the malls and tourists’ spots with their

families, and with the onset of the virus and the imposition of

lockdown, it has led them to a mixed bag of emotional feelings, and only their families and

friends can help these people to cope with these feelings of loneliness and isolation brought upon

by the pandemic.

Social

Social relationships and happiness are intertwined with each other. As stated in the study

by Desseilles & Quoidbach (2019), relationships with the persons who are closest to you

contribute to your happiness. Obviously, by relating this to the current situation, Filipinos value

their relationships with their families and friends more than any other persons in the world, and

this relationship has helped them cope up and adjust to the current situation. Also, in this study, it

is observed that people seek happiness-enhancing social relationships when they feel bad e.g.,

feelings of loneliness, solitude, etc. It means that when people feel lonely or isolated, they try to

exert an effort to connect with other people or their friends to induce happiness and build a more

positive relationship.
 Mental and social aspects of humans tend to go hand-in-hand, A study by Fiorillo &

Gorwood (2020) suggested that the reduced social interaction with people can lead to mental

disorders mentioned earlier, and people who have loved ones who had cases of COVID-19 can

generate fear and anxiety. This means that people who have a closely knitted relationship with

their family and friends tend to show signs of fear and anxiety if their loved ones suffer the fatal

virus. Also, these psychosocial consequences have a huge effect on people especially those who

have contracted the virus, those who are vulnerable to various mental and psychological

stressors, health professionals, and people who religiously follow the news because it can create

fear in their minds depending on the severity of the situation.

 BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE INTERVIEWEES

For the completion of this study, the researchers have interviewed four people, which are

composed of two students and two adults. Below is the pertinent information regarding the

interviews.

Karla Terrine Althea Ligon

She is 19 years old and is currently a student at the

University of the Santo Tomas (UST), taking up the

course of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. The

reason why she chose UST and Accountancy is that

it is her dream school and course so that is why she

tried hard to graduate in Senior High School and

pass the USTET, Her goals in life are to graduate

college and her course and pass the CPA board examination. She plans to work in a corporate

office someday. For her, the definition of her happiness is her family, friends, and watching

shows on Netflix and K-drama makes her happy, whenever she is relaxing or not doing

something that is academic-related.

Victor Joseph A. Zabala II

He is 19 years old and is currently a student at

Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-

Taguig City Campus, taking up the course of Bachelor of Science in Electronics and

Communications Engineering (BSECE). It is significant for him to finish his studies as a Scholar

ng Bayan and it will also give his parents a light responsibility for him. He also added that he

admires movies related to engineering and he sees it as an advantage because the skills that are

required in ECE and his skills are needed everywhere. His goals in life are to become a licensed

engineer, take a working experience from NASA, and having a business related to agricultural

technologies. The definition of happiness for him is “broad” because seeing his family and loved

ones happy makes him feel contented. He summed up that the best to describe what he is feeling

right now is that he is free but still has a moderate level of pressure for tomorrow.

Rose Ann Cordon

She is 32 years old from Nagcarlan, Laguna. She is currently

working at Globe Telecom as a retail specialist for almost

seven years. She was persuaded by her friend to apply for the

position of FTE (Fixed-Term Employee) at Globe Telecom.

She considered it since she doesn't have work at that time.

Then, she has worked hard for it and a chance was given to her

to be a regular employee. Her goals in life will benefit her family and herself because she wants

to get promoted and apply for migration in New Zealand, because she heard that it is one of the

best places to work and live. She feels so happy with the people around her, especially her

family, friends etc., who have given her the inspiration to work harder, to look forward to her

dreams, and to see positive things in every situation.

Winklaire L. Alinsob

She is 22 years old and is currently working as a Customer

Service Representative at Concentrix Alabang. She said that

this job has given her a tremendous opportunity especially for

someone who is looking for more work experience like herself.

Her goals in life are to be genuinely happy and successful in

the future. The definition of happiness for her is her family,

friends, and travels.

 DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS

After conducting the interviews, and reviewing their responses to the questions presented,

the researchers have found out multiple findings regarding happiness and its effect during the

pandemic.

In general, most of the interviewees have been optimistic and happy during the past few

months, even though that the pandemic has somehow hampered some of their goals and plans,

citing different reasons like academic opportunities, high and optimal academic performance,

expanded job opportunities, and different work and school achievements that they have

accomplished. Rego and Cunha (2009) emphasized the correlation between perceived happiness

and the opportunities for learning, personal and work development, and they have concluded that

happier individuals have high or positive perceptions on the variables mentioned, which means

that happy people tend to be optimistic due to the different opportunities that have opened for

them. Also, for them, happiness is the most relevant thing during this pandemic, and the only

thing that can give them hope to continue with their lives.

When it comes to the physical factors and how it affects their state of happiness during

the pandemic, most of the interviewees saw a drastic change with their physical appearance and

their lifestyle, which resulted to a weight increase and their sedentary activities, thus, leading to a

feeling of discontentment and unhappiness which manifests especially to students who are self-

conscious with their bodies. Bolkovic et al (2020) and his teams of researchers at Yale

University had the same findings, saying that 41% of almost 10,000 adult participants say that
they are concerned about their physical health and appearance. Students also had the same

experience, with 48% of the physical activities of the participants surveyed had decreased due to

the pandemic, which resulted in increased sedentary activities and negative health behaviors.

(Samuel, Sharma & Srivastav, 2021). These are all interconnected, but some of the interviewees

have used physical activities to cope up with the pandemic. This can help them alleviate

psychological disorders and different emotional setbacks. (University of Michigan-Psychiatry

Department, 2020).

Other human dimensions that have been affected by the pandemic and are intricately tied

with happiness are the mental and psychological well-being of humans. These dimensions stood

out the most during the interviews due to their strong impact on the moods and emotions of

students and adults. Students in this interview said that they have suffered anxiety during the

pandemic due to the adjustments brought upon by online classes and the mental exhaustion of

finishing an abundance of schoolworks. For adults, the added responsibilities in work and in the

house, and their job security have greatly contributed to their anxiety and insomnia during this

pandemic. These are all common mental distress that has also been seen across countries, citing

unemployment, student status, and the frequent consumption of negative news as risk factors

(Xiong et al., 2020). These are clearly critical issues to investigate to help people cope up with

the pandemic, and to manage the spread of the infectious disease, while also ensuring that their

emotional stability is at normal (Cullen, Gulati & Kelly, 2020).

Decision-making skills and goal setting are also key components of the mental

framework of students and employed adults, which has contributed to their level of happiness.

These components were drastically affected during the pandemic for a few reasons. First,

according to them. the decisions that they are making, have been more important during this
crisis as they try to reach their goals and sustain their level of happiness. For them, reaching

these goals that they have set for themselves and the right decisions that they can make during

this pandemic can contribute to their level of happiness. Setting goals and planning for their

future during this pandemic can help people to be optimistic about the things you are looking

forward to (Noll, 2020). It can also make them to be more appreciative of the things that are

important to them and to those who have helped them throughout the ordeal. (Manly, 2020).

Emotional well-being has been at the forefront of this pandemic, and there were two

distinct responses as to how this pandemic has affected their emotions and their level of

happiness towards themselves and their loved ones. The first response, which was a sentiment

among two of the respondents, was that this pandemic has made them more emotional on

different things, and it has also tested their patience over the things that they do and their

interaction with other people.

These were obviously inevitable during the pandemic, with the added feelings of panic and

anxiety, that is exacerbated by news on social and traditional media that can shape our emotions

and behavior, and therefore, most people had a hard time managing their emotions during this

pandemic (UCF-Department of Psychiatry, 2020). The second response from one of the

respondents was that this pandemic and the feeling of isolation has helped her to find peace and

contemplation during this pandemic. This is quite unusual, because rarely an adult has this kind

of response, but this can manifest well especially to those people who have an introverted

behavior or people who do not always go outdoors and who prefer to stay indoors. These two

responses were stark contrasts with each other and has a huge bearing in studying how the

pandemic has affected their level of happiness.

Social life and interaction between their friends and long-distanced families have also
been affected by the pandemic, and physical interaction with them has been brought into a

grinding halt, but all of the respondents have emphasized that although physical interaction with

their loved ones has been limited, constant communication and monthly catch-up with them

using virtual platforms has helped them to maintain their social relationship and avoid loneliness

and boredom. Another revealing thing during the interview was that according to them, this

pandemic has helped them strengthen their relationship with their families who lived in the same

space as them as they get to know them better and bond with them every day. Therefore,

according to them, their relationships with their loved ones has not been affected and was also

critical for their continued happiness and optimism.

Coping mechanisms during these trying times are critical, for them to remain happy and

to achieve their goals during this pandemic. For them, their family has been the most important

emotional support and coping mechanism because they provide love and care, and they can also

help them conquer their problems and psychological disorders that they have experienced during

the pandemic. Creating happy hours with them, doing new hobbies with them, and exercising

different optimistic attitude with them are the things that students and adults can do with their

families to ease anxiety and emotional breakdowns (Gallam, 2020).

Another coping mechanism that was evident during the interview was watching Netflix

shows and K-drama shows, which was emphasized by teens and young adults. Internal coping

mechanisms was also evident among adults like their purpose in life, the progress that they are

making through their life and the future that holds them. These can also help them cope up with

the situation, because it can help them to solve some identity crisis within themselves that has

shaped their pandemic, because some people, especially adults, find it hard to find their purpose

and meaning in these trying times.

 All in all, the interviewees had different realizations during this pandemic. For Karla

Ligon, “Every single day is given to start something new,” and being optimistic for the future

can help

teenagers achieve total happiness and motivate themselves to do better. Victor had a different

realization, which was focused on overcoming challenges saying, “Life has a nature of

challenges, and its goal is to win it and share that win to others.” Winning life’s challenges can

help people achieve total happiness.

Adults have focused their realization on a more personal and emotional note. Mrs.

Cordon emphasized the importance of appreciation saying that, “We should be appreciative of

what we have today at the present time.” For her, achieving happiness can be best achieved in

the present time and the things and persons we have now. Ms. Alinsob focused on handling

emotions during the pandemic stating, “It is normal to be emotional or emotionless, as long as

we decide to move forward, because it is part of this process.” For her, experiencing crisis like

this can make us stronger in the future, and it is vital for us to show our true emotions to people

for us to stay emotionally and mentally sane.

 CONCLUSION

Based on the objectives set during this study, the researchers have concluded that:

Happiness is still relevant during this pandemic among students and adults, and it has been the

most relevant thing and a source of inspiration for them to continue moving forward and remain

optimistic throughout the ordeal.

Similarly, both students and adults are optimistic and happy amidst the pandemic, due to

vast employment and academic opportunities and endeavors, that has given them the chance to

succeed in their chosen career path. Another similarity is that they define family as their

happiness, which is vital in seeking motivation and inspiration towards achieving their goals in

life The differences between them are that the students are much more optimistic of the future

than the adults, because of the different educational and academic reasons, particularly the

impending resume of face-to-face classes, as they step into the college life, while adults,

especially the old ones, lean more on the uncertain side based on the gravity of the work and

house responsibilities that they have to accomplish., but they remain optimistic and happy

because of their work. Another difference is how they have handled their emotions throughout

this pandemic, in which adults have handled it well than students. The state of happiness

between students and adults depend mostly on their responsibilities, the degree of problems that
they face, and their attitudes and principles towards life.

With regards to the different aspects of a person’s life and how it has affected their state

of happiness.

a. Physical limitations and the lack of opportunities to exercise outdoors has led them to

gain weight, which has given them the feeling of discontentment, but they have

slowly prevented these by being more conscious of what they eat and what they do

that has given them a positive feeling.

b. Students and adults had different approaches on deciding on important decisions

during this pandemic that has affected their mental health and their well-being, and it

has certainly affected their state of happiness, based on the results and consequences

of their decisions.

c. This pandemic has certainly affected their psychological well-being, which has led to

different mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, insomnia etc., that has

affected their happiness. Sudden changes in their habits and the patterns of their

activities has affected them for a while when the pandemic has started, but all of them

tried to seek support mentally and emotionally, mainly from their families. It has

helped them to realize or to be more aware of themselves, their health, their purpose,

and their worries every day.

d. Students and adults had a rough emotional phase that has affected their state of

happiness, but the pandemic has helped them to become more aware of their emotions

and to manage it properly. The happiness that they can get can also mean having

enough time and support from their family, whatever emotions they may go through.
 e. The pandemic has limited their social interaction with their family and friends, but

constant communication with them virtually has sustained their level of happiness.

Moreover, being isolated with the other members of the family made their bond and

relationship stronger, which has given them happiness.

Family is the main coping mechanism for students and adults during this pandemic as

they are their main source of support and strength throughout the pandemic since they are the

only people who can support them and give them emotional support. Another coping mechanism

that can help people during this pandemic is relaxing through watching series and shows to

relieve the anxiety within them.

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Pandemic. Parents. https://www.parents.com/health/mental/ways-to-cope-with-anxiety-as-a-

family-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

APPENDIX

Screenshot of Interviews
 Interview with Karla Ligon

Interview with Rose

Cordon
 Interview with Wink Alinsob

Interview with Victor Zavalla

Guide Questions
1. How happy are you right now?

2. How often do you feel joy or optimism during this pandemic?

3. How do you see yourself before and during the pandemic? (In external and internal

terms)

4. What changes did you see in terms of your physical well-being and your physical

lifestyle before and during this pandemic?

5. How did this pandemic affect the way you make decisions for yourself and for others?

6. Who or what motivates you to achieve your goals that is based on the decisions you make

despite the current situation that we are in?

7. How did this pandemic affect your psychological well-being? Did you experience any

mental health disorder/condition (i.e. anxiety, depression, insomnia etc.)?

8. What coping mechanisms did you use for you to overcome these psychological problems

and to stay happy during this pandemic?

9. How did this pandemic affect your emotions and moods towards yourself and to other

people?

10. How important is the emotional support from your family and friends for you to stay

emotionally stable and optimistic?

11. How does social media and traditional media affect your emotional and mental well-

being?

12. In your opinion, what differences have you noticed between physical and virtual

interaction with your family and friends? Which one do you prefer and why?

13. How did you feel about the sudden lack of contact/interaction with your family and

friends? Did this affect your relationship with them?

14. What is the biggest thing that you have learned during the course of this pandemic about

yourself and the way you see things?

 15. How do you see yourself after the pandemic? Are you optimistic or uncertain of your

future, and why?

16. In conclusion, do you still think that happiness is still relevant amidst the pandemic? why

or why not?

Youtube Links for Interview

Interview of Karla Ligon Pt. 1- https://youtu.be/8FvaOsV2ipY

Interview of Karla Ligon Pt. 2- https://youtu.be/eJnCToP9gKc

Interview of Victor Zavalla Pt. 1- https://youtu.be/5U7QLUVJ5lQ

Interview of Victor Zavalla Pt. 2- https://youtu.be/-zjz4ChHBeI

Interview of Wink Alinsob Interview- https://youtu.be/JC-c9gbIseo

Interview of Rose Cordon Pt 1- https://youtu.be/hZk3cck44uE

Interview of Rose Cordon Part 2- https://youtu.be/2JCpmTY__nA