The purpose of this research is to investigate how Happiness Enhancement counseling program based on Positive Psychology effects the children's happiness and depression. To achieve the purpose, the following two research questions were established.
...
The purpose of this research is to investigate how Happiness Enhancement counseling program based on Positive Psychology effects the children's happiness and depression. To achieve the purpose, the following two research questions were established.
<Research 1> Will Happiness Enhancement counseling program improve the children's happiness(self-esteem, optimism, relationship with friends, family environment)?
<Research 2> Will Happiness Enhancement counseling program reduce the children's depression(negative self-conception/inefficiency, problems of personal relations, negative mood/physical symptoms)?
To verify the questions above, 2 classes from the 4th grade 3 classes of S elementary school in Seoul were selected as subjects. Then, a pre-test measuring the school satisfaction and self-efficacy was given to subjects. 29 children(16 males and 13 females) of teacher's class were placed in experimental group, while another 29 children(16 males and 13 females) who had same qualities as the experimental group were placed in a control group.
The experimental group participated in 10 terms of the Happiness Enhancement counseling program for 5 weeks while the control group didn't. After the experiment, a post-test was given to verify the effects of the program. In verifying the effects of the program, quantitative analysis using Korean i-STATistics(2009), opinion documents for each term, opinion documents of the children after the program, children’s happiness diaries and qualitative analysis of teachers through observation and analysis were used.
The results of quantitative analysis verifying the effects of the program were as follow;
First, compared to the control group, the experimental group that participated in Happiness Enhancement counseling program showed significant improvement in happiness and its sub-factors(self-esteem, optimism, family environment).
Second, compared to the control group, the experimental group that participated in Happiness Enhancement counseling program showed no significant reduction in depression but significant reduction its sub-factor, negative self-conception/inefficiency.
To supplement the results of quantitative analysis, a qualitative analysis was executed, and the result showed that children were more able to positive think positively, and had better relationships with their friends and family. Also it showed that they were better equipped to deal with sadness or negative thinking.
The results above prove that the Happiness Enhancement counseling program has a positive effect on the happiness and its sub-factors, self-esteem, optimism, family environment. Also Happiness Enhancement counseling program facilitates significant reduction on negative self-conception /inefficiency. This means negative emotions as depression can decrease by increasing positive emotions as happiness. Thus this research points to further study of a more efficient program dealing with children's relationships with their friends and a steady checking of progress using happiness practice exercises. Also this research would be enhanced further study of the Happiness Enhancement counseling program for elementary school children from the 1st to the 6th grades.