The Meaning and the Source of Mother’s Happiness: An Explorative

Study to Young Adult Mothers with

Ages 20-40 Years Old

Endang Prastuti

1,2

, Mareyke Maritje Wagey Tairas

and Nurul Hartini

Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya - Indonesia

Faculty of Education of Psychology, Malang State University, Malang - Indonesia

Keywords: Happiness, Young Mother

Abstract: Subjective well-being or happiness has become a focus of positive psychology for the last three decades,

however the meaning of happiness based on life span perspective and gender, especially for motherhood, so

far is still unknown. In the other hand, mother’s happiness has an important role in the family because it

effects social interaction with significant others. The aim of research: to understand the meaning and the

source of happiness. The research which is used is survey methods. There are 40 respondents from various

levels of occupation. 25-40 aged mothers who have characteristic: mostly have children aged around 1-6

years, college educated, the number of respondents who work and do not work are impartial. The result

shows that (1) the meaning or definition of happiness by respondents were "subjective well-being in family

domain” (2) the family is a source of happiness and foremost, once the source of unhappiness is when there

are problems related to interaction with spouse and their children. (2) the lowest happiness perceived as

problematic marriage age 1-4 years, and when respondents 20-24 years of age and continued until 25-30

years. (3) according to the respondents the most important predictors of happiness on the internal aspect is

the character strength including gratitude, while families who provide emotional support is an important

external predictor. Implications of the research findings:(1) The instrument of subjective well-being "new"

namely subjective well-being in family domain needs to be developed, both components of cognitive (life

satisfaction) and affective components (positive and negative affect) (2) should be developed model of

subjective well-being ‘s mother with character strength as predictors.

1 INTRODUCTION

The differentiation of happiness and wellbeing is

rooted in two traditions. Based on the tradition of

eudaimonic the definition of happiness is self-

realization, which means realizing all the potential

that exists in the self (diamond) meaning that one is

happy when reaching the goal and developing its

unique potential (Baumgardner & Crothers, 2010).

Relevant to the definition of happiness based on the

eudaimonic tradition, Riff (1995) proposes

psychological well-being, characterized: self-

acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life,

environmental mastery, autonomy and positive

relation with others.

Subjective well-being or hedonic happiness is

well-being by emphasizing internal and subjective

parameters, consisting of the cognitive component

(life satisfaction) of an assessment of the satisfaction

of one's life compared with the standard and

affective components consisting of positive affect

and negative affect (Diener, 1984, 2009). Subjective

well-being, often used in terms of happiness, is then

used interchangeably (Baumgardner & Crothers,

2010).

Happiness is the ultimate goal of human

existence, although the source of personal happiness

varies, yet almost every culture places happiness as

an important life goal (Lyubomorsky, 2001). The

meaning of subjective well-being to the eastern

culture and collectivist culture, research on research

in local culture, family sense and ties are the highest

aspect of happiness (Anggoro & Widhiarso, 2010).

The meaning of subjective well-being based on

life span development and temporal state differs in

different stages of development. At the age of

children oriented to the present and pleasant life,

when the teenagers began to be oriented to future

Prastuti, E., Tairas, M. and Hartini, N.

The Meaning and the Source of Mother’s Happiness: An Explorative Study to Young Adult Mothers with Ages 20-40 Years Old.

DOI: 10.5220/0008585901010107

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Psychology in Health, Educational, Social, and Organizational Settings (ICP-HESOS 2018) - Improving Mental Health and Harmony in

Global Community, pages 101-107

ISBN: 978-989-758-435-0

101

and engagement life, adult-oriented period of

meaningful life, focusing on finding life goals,

meaning of life and experience of choosing

(Durayappah, 2011).

The subjective well-being of life span

perspective, especially young adult age, among

others, is related to success & satisfaction in the

work setting, and the interaction and satisfaction of

marriage (Pavot & Diener, 2004), in other words the

relationship with others plays an important role and

becomes a source of happiness (Baumgardner &

Crothers, 2010). The subjective well-being problem

is shown by dissatisfaction in marriage and divorce,

a special concern for researchers (Baumgardner &

Crothers, 2010). The lowest point of subjective well-

being in the young adulthood period (Papalia &

Olds, 1986), occurs at the age of 30-40 years,

(Mroczek & Kolarz, 1998, in Santrock, 2011), while

the transition period of 30s, (28-33 years) some

people can pass through the transition and grow or

experience problems of marriage and divorce

(Levinson, in Papalia & Olds, 1986).

The problematic of subjective well-being in the

family context is evident from the continuing decline

in life satisfaction in the domain of marriage up to

the 8th to 10th years (Kurdek in Baumgardner &

Crothers, 2010). In addition to the problematic of

marriage, in the late adult early period (Papalia &

Olds, 1986), around age 35 (Shaie & Willis, 1991),

involves resolution of the generativity crisis vs.

stagnation. The attainment of generativity through

care (Schaie & Willis, 1991) has a stronger effect on

well-being, especially in women (Shin An &

Cooney, 2006).

Subjective well-being in mothers plays an

important role in building family happiness. The

Low family happiness, marked by the presence of

parental stress which affects well-being in children.

The result of research showed parenting stress was

negatively correlated with children’s well-being

(Lee, et al., 2016). Parental distress is also a

determinant of life satisfaction in children

(Powdthavee & Vignolas, 2007), this means parents

who have negative affect will have an impact on

children’s parent interactions, through a mechanism

of poor emotion regulation that has an impact on

parenting (Psychogiou &Parry, 2014).

Questions unanswered by previous research: how

do women specifically define happiness (subjective

well-being), what are the sources of happiness for

the mother and what is the source of the problematic

of the mother's happiness? The purpose of this study

to explore and describe (a) the meaning of hedonic

(subjective well-being) for the mother (b the source

of hedonic happiness (subjective well-being) for the

mother (c) problematic of mother's happiness

(subjective well-being), (d) factors affecting the

happiness of the mother.

2 METHOD

2.1 Research Design

The design of this study uses a survey research

design. Performed on a number of respondents using

a measuring instrument in the form of a list of

questions (questionnaires) with the aim of study is to

describe: (a) the meaning of subjective well-being

for mothers (b the most important source of

happiness for the mothers (c) problematic of

happiness for the mother (d) the factors that affect

happiness for the mothers.

2.2 Participants

This study involves participants with the following

characteristics: (a) The status of a mother, who has a

child, (b) 20-40 years of age, (c) employment status:

work or not work, (d) Islamic religion. Respondents

in this study amounted to 40 mothers, are the parents

of PG & TK Laboratorium UM students, with the

following characteristic of respondents coming from

urban area, with average age 31-35 years, family

income ranges from Rp.2,600,000 to Rp.5,000,000,

most of educational level is College S1, working

status and not working equally, most respondents

have children with age range 1-6 years.

2.3 Data Collecting Instrument

In this study data collections using the guide list of

questions are open and closed to know the meaning

of subjective well-being in the respondent mothers

aged 20-40 years old. The questionnaire be arranged

to understand (a) the meaning of subjective well-

being for mothers (b the most important source of

happiness for the mothers (c) problematic of

happiness for the mother (d) the factors that affect

happiness for the mothers.

2.4 Data Collecting Instrument

Data analysis using descriptive statistics (percentage

technique), is supported by theme analysis that

appears based on the subject's narrative answers.

ICP-HESOS 2018 - International Conference on Psychology in Health, Educational, Social, and Organizational Settings

102

3 RESULTS

3.1 The Meaning of Subjective

Well-being for Mothers

The result of the research that some of the

respondents defines the satisfaction of life is when

the needs, desires, goals and dreams can be achieved

both the inner and inward. The highest requirement

is related to the family, namely "family happiness".

Thus, the definition of life satisfaction for the

mother is when the family is happy, indicated by the

fulfillment of needs, desires, dreams and

expectations; this means the meaning of life

satisfaction for the mother is related to the family

context. Other findings of happiness are

characterized by positive feelings such as: feeling

happy, safe, calm, peaceful, peace, compassion, free

feelings, feelings of satisfaction, happy and cheerful

and unique feelings such as sufficient feeling,

sincere feelings and gratitude, and free from sadness,

pressure and stress.

3.2 Subjective Well-being Resources

for Mothers

The results showed that the source of satisfaction for

the mother described in Table 1.

Table 1: The source of mother’s life satisfaction (N=40)

Source of Subjective

Well-Being

Frequency

Percentage

(%)

Social Group 1 0.89

Self-Development 4 3.57

Office / Home Wor

5 4.46

Finance / Economics 11 9.82

Reli

ion 24 21.43

Health 33 29.46

Famil

34 30.36

Based on Table 1, it was found that most of the

respondents (30.36%) considered that the highest

source of life satisfaction for the mother was the

family, while few respondents considered economic

and even self-development factors were considered

as the source of life satisfaction. Furthermore, the

respondents provide the reasons why the family is

the source of satisfaction and the happiness of life is

most important. Some reasons are derived from the

response of most subjects as illustrated below:

"family is everything, the number one, the

main, everything, is a priority of life, always"

there in all atmosphere, is the foundation of

life, if the family is happy, others will

automatically follow, other than that life is

more meaningful when in the family..."

These findings reinforce the results of

subsequent studies related to the source of positive

feelings for the mother as shown Table 2.

Table 2: The Source of Positive Mother's Feelings (N=40)

The Source Frequency

Percentage

(

)

House kee

1 1.02

Interactions with

others

1 1.02

Office wor

3 3.06

Religion 10 10.2

Financial 11 11.22

Health 17 17.35

Interaction with s

ouse 27 27.55

Interaction with

children

28 28.57

Table 2 provides empirical evidence that for

mothers the source of positive feelings is also related

to the family context means that the majority of

respondents perceive that interaction with children

and with spouses is the source of positive feelings of

the highest order. Is the family also a source of

dissatisfaction? The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3: The Source of mother's dissatisfaction (N=40)

The Source Frequency

Percentage

(

)

Work problems 4 4.76

Homework Issue 5 5.95

Financial problems 10 11.9

Health

roblems 10 11.9

Child care issues 11 13.09

Leisure & Recreation

issues

11 13.09

Famil

Problems 15 17.86

Interaction Problems

with Couples

18 21.43

Based on the data in Table 3 shows that: the

source of life dissatisfaction is also related to

problems in the family (17.86%), especially the

problem of interaction with spouse (21.43%) and

parenting problems (child care issues). This means

the family is the source of life satisfaction, as well as

the source of life dissatisfaction, especially the

problem of interaction with the spouse occupy the

highest order.

Results of research related to the source of

mother's unhappiness, can be shown Table 4.

Based on the data in Table 4 shows that: the

source of mother’s unhappiness is also related to the

The Meaning and the Source of Mother’s Happiness: An Explorative Study to Young Adult Mothers with Ages 20-40 Years Old

103

problem in the family, especially the problem of

interaction with the partner occupies the highest

percentage (22.22%), followed by child care

(15.28%). It is concluded that the family is the first

source of happiness and unhappiness for mother,

means that the family becomes the "frame" of how

high the satisfaction of one's life and how high the

positive feelings of a mother, especially the social

interaction both with the spouse and the child

through parenting, rather than the opportunity to

develop himself. This finding is interesting, because

half of the respondents’ work, but the family

remains a source of satisfaction and happiness for

the respondent's life.

Table 4: The Sources of Mother’s Unhappiness (N=40)

Source Frequenc

Percentage

Recreation & leisure 1 1.38

Reli

ion 4 5.50

Self-develo

ment 5 6.94

Homewor

8 11,00

Office wor

8 11.00

Health 9 12.50

Finance / Economics 10 13.88

Child Care 11 15.28

Interactions with

ouse

16 22.22

3.3 Subjective Well-being Problems for

Mothers

The results related to the problematic of subjective

well-being mothers, especially young mothers

attributed to the length of marriage are shown in

Table 5 and Table 6.

Table 5: Lowest related subjective well-being levels

associated with age (N= 40)

e ran

e Percenta

e Fre

uenc

(

)

36-40 years ol

4 10.26

31-35 years ol

4 10.26

25-30 yea

s ol

15 38.46

20-24

ears ol

16 41.03

Based on the data as outlined in Table 5, it shows

interesting findings that the majority of respondents

(41.03%) reported when aged 20-24 years old,

continued at the age of 25-30 years old (38.46%) per

year perceived as the lowest point of subjective well

-being. It is concluded that the lowest level of

happiness of life is directly proportional to age,

means that the lower the age level is followed by the

higher frequency of respondents experiencing

happiness at the lowest level, the more increasing

age decreases the frequency of respondents who

experience subjective well-being is low, means that

subjective well-being mothers aged 20-40 years

reflect a dynamic adaptation process.

The subjective well-being problems can also be

seen from the length of marriage. Data on the

research results related to this are illustrated in table

Table 6: Lowest Well-Being Subjective Level Associated

with Age of Marriage (N=40)

Age of Marriage Frequenc

Percentage (%)

13-16

ears ol

1 2.63

17-20

ears ol

1 2.63

9-12 years ol

2 5.27

5-8 years ol

4 10.53

1-4 years ol

30 78.95

Table 6 provides empirical evidence that the

majority of respondents (78.95%) reported that the

beginning of family life, primarily 1-4 years of

marriage, subjected subjective well-being to the

lowest level. This means happiness is a dynamic

adjustment process. In this phase is a "critical crisis"

if you can face it will be possible to build happiness.

3.4 Factors Affecting the Well-being

Subjective of Mother

Based on the results of the research shows that

according to the perception of respondents, internal

factors that play a role is: the ability to mature,

characterized by the ability to solve problems and

the will to be "good people", characterized by

positive thinking, learn to forgive, accept, manage

emotions, learn happy and grateful to all given by

Allah. It is interesting from these findings that the

respondents also revealed that such as learning to

receive, learning to forgive, sincerity, and gratitude

towards all the gifts of Allah as an internal factor

affecting subjective well-being, while families who

provide emotional support, accept and appreciate are

external factors which gives the color of happiness

for the mother.

4 DISCUSSION

4.1 The Meaning of Subjective

Well-being for Mother

The results of research on mothers aged 20-40 years

old found that the meaning or definition of

subjective well-being according to the respondent's

ICP-HESOS 2018 - International Conference on Psychology in Health, Educational, Social, and Organizational Settings

104

perception is "subjective well-being in family

domain," means that the satisfaction and happiness

of life for the mother is when can make happy his

family, characterized by the emergence of positive

feelings such as: feelings of joy, calm, peace, peace,

affection, and free from pressure and sadness.

The meaning of well-being according to

respondents is more focused on hedonic happiness,

rather than eudaimonic happiness, it is based on

findings of data that respondents view the family as

a source of happiness, on the other hand self-

development or psychological well-being

optimization such as personal growth (Riff, 1995) in

the context of work is less important, although in

adulthood the success and satisfaction in the work

setting becomes the goal (Pavot & Diener, 2004). It

also proves that subjective well-being is related to

the context of social interaction, means that

relationships with others play an important role and

become a source of happiness (Baumgardner &

Crothers, 2010).

The results showed that subjective well-being

according to mothers, is subjective well-being in

family domain. Although 50% of respondents are

working mothers, subjective well-being is more

meaningful life-oriented (Durayappah, 2011), and

relationships with others are a source of happiness

(Baumgardner & Crothers, 2010).

Other findings show that happiness is

characterized by positive feelings such as: feelings

of pleasure, safety, calm, peace, peaceful,

compassion, feelings of freedom, feelings of

satisfaction, happy and cheerful and unique feelings

such as sufficient feelings, sincere feelings and

gratitude, sadness, pressure and stress. The results of

this study will imply the need to develop subjective

well-being instruments in the family domain, since

so far, the subjective well-being measuring

instruments such as SWLS (Diener, et al 1985),

SPANE (Diener, et.al, 2009) and also PANAS

(Watson, et al. 1988), only measure subjective well-

being in general.

4.2 Subjective Well-being Resources

for Mother

The results of the study found that the source of

happiness and subjective well-being in family

domains, related to the interaction of mothers with

spouses and children (significant others), ironically

the family is also a source of dissatisfaction and

unhappiness. This is in accordance with the results

of previous research on local communities that the

aspect of happiness in the highest order is the sense

or bond in the family (Anggoro & Widhiarso, 2010),

but for female respondents the least satisfaction is

their social interaction in the family context

(Eggleston et al., 2001).

4.3 Subjective Well-being Problems for

Mother

The results showed that most respondents perceived

the lowest well-being level at the age of 25-30 years.

Based on this data, it can be concluded that the

lowest level of happiness of life is directly

proportional to age, means that the lower level of

age will be followed by the higher frequency of

respondents experiencing happiness at the lowest

level. This means that the lowest level of subjective

well-being when the graph is made will follow the

letter U. This means that subjective well-being is

primarily in the context of the family in the

respondent's mother aged 20-40 years old, reflecting

the dynamic process. This is reinforced by other

research findings that the level of subjective well-

being is when the age of marriage of first 1-4 years.

The results of this study are in accordance with

previous research that the problematic subjective

well-being in the context of the family, seen from

the declining life satisfaction until the year of

marriage year 8 to 10 (Kurdek, in Baumgarndner &

Crothers, 2010). This means that subjective well-

being is a process of high adjustment, in the early

marriage is a "critical crisis" if it can deal effectively

then it will be possible to build a stable subjective

well-being.

4.4 Factors that Affect the Subjective

Well-being of the Mother

The results showed that according to the

respondents, internal factors that play a role in the

happiness of life is when individuals are able to

mature, characterized by the ability to solve

problems and the will to be "good people" by

realizing the positive potential of individuals such

as: positive thinking, self-confidence, learning to

forgive, managing emotions, learning to be happy

and thankful for all that Allah has given. Among the

predictors as reported by the respondents, based on a

previous study of emotional factors or emotional

regulation, acceptance is a dimension of

mindfulness, and gratitude, a strong predictor of

influencing subjective well-being.

Emotional regulation means the whole strategy is

consciously or unconsciously used by individuals to

reduce, maintain or enhance emotions, be they

The Meaning and the Source of Mother’s Happiness: An Explorative Study to Young Adult Mothers with Ages 20-40 Years Old

105

positive or negative emotions (Gross, 2003) affect

subjective well-being (Prastiti & Rini, 2016). The

mindfulness can also increase life satisfaction and

happiness (Blasco, Viguer & Rodrigo, 2013).

Grateful as coping responses (Emmons &

McCulhough, 2003), based on previous research

results with diverse samples, the gratitude affects

subjective-wellbeing (Emmons & McCulhough,

2003; Martinez, et al, 2010; Tofangchi, 2013; Datu,

2014).

The problematic of subjective well-being

mothers of adults aged 20-40 years old are

influenced by the length of marriage. The research

results prove the beginning of marriage (1-4 years)

shows subjective well-being that tends to decline,

meaning that subjective well-being is a dynamic

process. A stable subjective well-being requires

adaptation, while an effective adaptation process

requires the role of emotional regulation,

mindfulness and gratitude.

Based on these findings it is recommended to

conduct further research on subjective well-being

models in mothers of young adults aged 20-40 years

with a quantitative approach, involving character

strength especially emotional regulation,

mindfulness and gratitude as predictors.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The meaning of subjective well-being (hedonic

happiness) for the respondents of young mothers

aged 20-40 years old is subjective well-being in

family domain, means that satisfaction and

happiness of life for mother is the happiness of her

family. The subjective source of well-being for the

mother is the family, especially how the interaction

of the mother with significant others (spouse and

child). The problem of subjective well-being

mothers is also family-based.

According to the age and length of marriage, the

lowest level of subjective well-being when the age

of 20-25 years old and the age of 26-30 years old.

Factors affecting the subjective well-being of the

mother, from the internal aspect are character

strength: emotion, acceptance, gratitude,

forgiveness, while the family providing emotional

support is an external predictor that important for the

respondent.

Based on the research findings, it is suggested

that further research is developed by the subjective

well-being model of the mother, involving predictor

of character strength that is strongly influenced

subjective well-being. Using a quantitative

approach, involves a large number of respondents. In

addition, further research is needed to develop a

"new" subjective well-being measuring instrument,

which is a subjective well-being in family domain

measurement tool designed for mother’s respondents

aged 20-40 years old.

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