Purpose
This study aimed to identify predictive factors affecting adolescents’ subjective happiness using data from the 2023 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A random forest model was applied to determine the strongest predictive factors, and its predictive performance was compared with traditional regression models.
Methods
Responses from a total of 44,320 students from grades 7 to 12 were analyzed. Data pre-processing involved handling missing values and selecting variables to construct an optimal dataset. The random forest model was employed for prediction, and SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) analysis was used to assess variable importance.
Results
The random forest model demonstrated a stable predictive performance, with an R2 of .37. Mental and physical health factors were found to significantly affect subjective happiness. Adolescents’ subjective happiness was most strongly influenced by perceived stress, perceived health, experiences of loneliness, generalized anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, economic status, fatigue recovery from sleep, and academic performance.
Conclusion
This study highlights the utility of machine learning in identifying factors influencing adolescents’ subjective happiness, addressing limitations of traditional regression approaches. These findings underscore the need for multidimensional interventions to improve mental and physical health, reduce stress and loneliness, and provide integrated support from schools and communities to enhance adolescents’ subjective happiness.

Purpose
The role of local children’s centers is becoming more important as after-school care expands to South Korean elementary schools. As elementary school years are the time when children grow into healthy adults. Children in this period must grow with a feeling of happiness. The purpose of this study is to understand and explain the meaning of happiness experiences of elementary school students receiving community child care services, and to expand and apply nursing knowledge to child care at community child care centers through their happiness experiences.
Methods
This qualitative study was conducted with 21 elementary school students who received program services at local children’s centers for more than 1 year. Participants conducted 1:1 depth interview. The interviews were analyzed by dividing them into themes.
Results
Finally, five themes and 14 sub-themes were organized. The five themes were derived as “feeling of freedom and joy,” “healthy and pleasant feeling from being cared for,” “feeling smart and competent,” “feeling loved by someone special,” “feeling well-adjusted to school life.” This conclusion means that participants experience autonomy and enjoyment in daycare centers, positive care, strengthen emotional bonds, and help them adapt well to school.
Conclusion
The participants in this study expressed happiness in various meanings at local children’s centers. This thesis informed that it is important for local children’s centers to prioritize children’s happiness for education and care for children. This paper will contribute to society by presenting a nursing perspective on the development of community children’s centers.

Purpose
The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among parenting role sharing, parenting stress, happiness, and parenting behavior of mothers with 6-year-old children.
Methods
This study used data from the seventh Panel Study of Korean Children, which began collecting longitudinal data on a sample of newborn households nationwide in 2008 and will continue yearly until 2027. The participants were 1,560 mothers of children aged 6 years. We conducted statistical analyses using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.
Results
The mean age of the mothers was 36.8±3.7 years. The mothers' perceived parenting role sharing (r=.07, p=.007), parenting stress (r=-.54, p<.001), and happiness (r=.38, p<.001) were significantly correlated with warm parenting behavior. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that parenting stress (β=-.47, p<.001), happiness (β=.15, p<.001), and parenting role sharing (β=.11, p<.001) were significant predictors for warm parenting behavior by mothers.
Conclusion
It is essential to reduce mothers' stress and increase their positive emotions (happiness). Fathers should actively share parenting roles in raising children to enhance mothers' warm parenting behavior.

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to obtain research-based evidence on the relationships among general characteristics, family strength, self-control, and happiness among late school-aged children using a correlational research design.
Methods
The participants were 172 fifth- and sixth-grade students from two public elementary schools. Data were collected by employing structured questionnaires, including the Korean Family Strengths Scale for Strengthening Family II, a self-control scale, and a happiness scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23.0.
Results
The level of happiness of late school-aged students showed significant correlations with family strength (r=.78, p<.001), and self-control (r=.59, p<.001). Family strength had a significant positive correlation with self-control (r=.55, p<.001). The factors with a significant impact on participants’ happiness were family strength (β=.63, p<.001), self-control (β=.21, p<.001), exercise frequency, and self-perceived health. The total explanatory power of the model was 69%, and the explanatory power of family strength for the level of happiness was 61%, showing that the family strength was the most important factor that promoted happiness in late school-aged students.
Conclusion
These findings imply that improving family strength is an important aspect of promoting happiness among late school-aged children. Interventions to strengthen late school-aged children’s self-control are also necessary.

Citations

• The Concept of Happiness in Children, Adolescents and the Factors that Influence it: a Systematic Literature Review
  Magdalini Vampa, Mitjana Profiri, Elona Kodhel, Dashamir Bërculli, Kaltrina Kelmendi, Natyra Agani-Destani
  Journal of Lifestyle and SDGs Review.2025; 5(3): e05405.     CrossRef
• Peer bonds and nature’s embrace: exploring the influence of pet caregiving on social well-being and nature connection among Taiwanese children
  Tzuhui Angie Tseng, Hsiao-Yen Fang, Ching-Cheng Shen, Yun-Chen Chang
  Frontiers in Public Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Predictors of Adolescents’ Subjective Happiness Based on Roy’s Adaptation Model: A Longitudinal Study
  Jeong-Eun Yang, SeolHwa Moon
  The Open Public Health Journal.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Investigation of aggression and happiness level in parents of 8-11 years old children playing sports
  Mehmet Metín, Servet Özoruç
  Sportis. Scientific Journal of School Sport, Physi.2024; 11(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Effects of Health Intentions and Health-promoting Behavior on Selfesteem among School-aged Children in South Korea
  Jin Kim, Ga Eul Jeon, Nam Hyun Cha
  Current Pediatric Reviews.2023; 19(3): 304.     CrossRef

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to describe the subjective happiness and satisfaction with life of children with type 1 diabetes and explore related factors.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used and the study was conducted with children at a diabetes camp. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire to explore positive and negative psychological factors. The questionnaire included Subjective Happiness Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and General Self-Efficacy Scale.
Results
Data from 15 children were used for data analysis. The correlational analysis results showed that subjective happiness was positively correlated satisfaction with life, social support, and self-efficacy, and was negatively correlated with perceived stress. Satisfaction with life was positively correlated social support, and was negatively correlated with perceived stress.
Conclusion
Results indicate that the positive psychology factors were closely related with social support and self-efficacy and may alleviate perceived stress and depressive feelings. Therefore, researchers and clinicians should include positive psychological factors in their health management model for children with chronic illness.

Citations

• Factors influencing quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study in South Korea
  Hye-Ryeon Park, So-Yeon Park
  Belitung Nursing Journal.2025; 11(3): 357.     CrossRef
• Process of Diabetes Management in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes
  Hyung-Eun Seo, Miyoung Kim, Eun-Young Doo, Jihye Choi
  Western Journal of Nursing Research.2020; 42(4): 278.     CrossRef
• Tell Me A Story: Promoting resiliency in military children with a bibliotherapy intervention
  Katherine Marie Conover
  Nursing Forum.2020; 55(3): 439.     CrossRef
• Blood Glucose Control and Related Factors at a Camp for Korean Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
  Narae Kang, Jieun Lee, Dong-Ho Park, Soo-Kyung Lee, So-Young Nam, Sanghyun Lee, Mincheol Kim, Heesook Kang, Euiyeon Kim, Misoon Kim, Min Sohn
  Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing.2018; 41(1): 58.     CrossRef
• Family quality of life among families of children with atopic dermatitis
  Hae Ji Jang, Seonyeong Hwang, Youngmee Ahn, Dae Hyun Lim, Min Sohn, Jeong Hee Kim
  Asia Pacific Allergy.2016; 6(4): 213.     CrossRef