Exploring eudaimonic and hedonic components of happiness : a mixed methods study

Abstract

In addition to assisting students in addressing stressful challenges, psychologists who work as student counsellors are also expected to focus on the development of strengths and potential. This implies, amongst others, to explore empirically students' conceptions of happiness. This article reports on a mixed methods study that investigated the concept of happiness, with specific reference to subjective and eudaimonic well-being, among a sample of university students. Quantitative results substantiated findings reported in the international literature. Qualitative analysis suggested that the participants regarded happiness as the absence of life stressors that are related to life circumstances. An integration of the data indicated that the university experience is intimately related to the pursuit and realisation of eudaimonic goals, which could result in collective subjective well-being. It is argued that student counsellors could play an important role in enhancing eudaimonic well-being.