ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
This study examines the intricate connections between happiness, autonomy, and psychological well-being in a culturally varied setting, specifically among undergraduate students in Klang Valley, Malaysia. This research investigates the interaction between self-determination theory and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions within a hybrid cultural framework that combines individualistic and collectivist principles. The study involved 401 university students who contributed data using validated scales to measure pleasure, autonomy, and psychological well-being. The correlations and predictive capacities of these variables were assessed using quantitative methods, specifically Pearson correlation and multiple regression. The findings demonstrated a notable and meaningful connection between happiness and psychological well-being, confirming the importance of happy emotions in improving mental health. In contrast, autonomy had an intricate correlation with well-being, displaying certain signs of adverse effects possibly stemming from cultural influences and the clash between personal aspirations and societal responsibilities. These findings emphasize the complex relationship between autonomy and psychological health, indicating that in the specific context of Malaysia, having high degrees of autonomy may not necessarily lead to improved psychological well-being. This study enhances the overall comprehension of psychological concepts in non-Western contexts and emphasizes the importance of culturally responsive approaches to mental health that take into account the delicate equilibrium between individual autonomy and collective-oriented principles.
Angel, S., Viana, A., & Santisteban, J. R. (2020). The development of autonomy in adolescence and young adulthood. Journal of Youth Studies, 23(4), 491-507.
Bernal, J. L., Flórez, C. E., & Gaviria, A. (2019). Autonomy in the transition to adulthood: A scale for young people. Journal of Adolescence, 74, 79-90.
Chirkov, V., Ryan, R. M., Kim, Y., & Kaplan, U. (2003). Differentiating autonomy from individualism and independence: A self-determination theory perspective on internalization of cultural orientations and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(1), 97-110.
Chua, S. H. (2020). Understanding the paradox of autonomy in collectivist cultures: A mixed-method study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 51(3), 193-214.
Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Tay, L. (2018). Advances in subjective well-being research. Nature Human Behaviour, 2, 253-260.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226.
Hill, A. B., & Argyle, M. (2002). The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire: A compact scale for the measurement of psychological well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 33(7), 1073-1082.
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Juan, F. S., Lee, S., & Ahmad, R. (2016). Navigating between collectivism and individualism: The cultural adaptation and psychological well-being of Malaysian youth. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(6), 731-745.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2006). Mental health in adolescence: Is America’s youth flourishing? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(3), 395-402.
Lyubomirsky, S., & Layous, K. (2013). How do simple positive activities increase well-being? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22(1), 57-62.
Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224-253.
Masten, A. S. (2001). Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. American Psychologist, 56(3), 227-238.
Ng, J. Y. Y., Ntoumanis, N., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Duda, J. L., & Williams, G. C. (2012). Self-determination theory applied to health contexts: A meta-analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(4), 325-340.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. Guilford Press.
Smith, C. L., Murphy, S., & Coats, J. R. (2019). The varying impacts of autonomy on well-being across life stages and cultural contexts. Developmental Psychology, 55(10), 2094-2107.
Triandis, H. C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Westview Press.
Umberson, D., & Montez, J. K. (2010). Social relationships and health: A flashpoint for health policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51(Suppl), S54-S66.
Zhang, L., Chen, B., & Ran, G. (2021). Autonomy in a collectivist context: Implications for psychological well-being. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(2), 451-466.
Yusof, N., Ma’rof, A. A., & Rosnon, M. R. (2024). The Relationship Between Happiness and Autonomy on Psychological Wellbeing among Undergraduate Students in KLANG Valley, Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(8), 1940–1952.
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode