As part of a graduation thesis conducted by a student of PMI College (Tagbilaran City, Bohol Island, Philippines), a study was carried out to examine the relationship between subjective happiness and general self-efficacy. A total of 209 students participated in the study, providing a sufficiently representative sample for preliminary statistical analysis.
The level of happiness was assessed using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), while general self-efficacy was measured with the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). Both instruments are well-validated and widely used in empirical psychological research.
Data analysis showed that 69% of respondents could be classified as conditionally “happy,” whereas 31% demonstrated a tendency toward lower levels of subjective well-being. The deviations in scores were relatively small, indicating a high degree of homogeneity within the sample and the absence of pronounced polarization in students’ perceptions of happiness.
It should be emphasized that happiness is a variable highly sensitive to both internal and external contextual factors. Exam preparation, interpersonal conflicts, family expectations, and academic pressure can temporarily or persistently influence subjective well-being. Therefore, interpretation of the results requires consideration of situational influences and temporal dynamics.
The results for self-efficacy also revealed a high level of group homogeneity. The mean score on the scale was 2.77 out of 4, corresponding to a moderate level of general self-efficacy. This suggests that students generally demonstrate a stable belief in their ability to cope with everyday challenges, particularly in academic and daily-life contexts.
Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between happiness and self-efficacy, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.338, indicating a moderate positive correlation. This finding suggests that students with higher levels of subjective happiness tend to report higher levels of self-efficacy. However, the relationship is neither direct nor absolute.
It is important to note that a moderate correlation does not imply a causal relationship. One cannot conclude that an unhappy individual will necessarily have low self-efficacy, nor that a high level of self-efficacy guarantees a strong sense of happiness. Happiness does not always function as a motivational driver, and self-efficacy may be supported by other sources of personal resilience.
The findings of this study may be useful for educational institutions and psychologists working with young adult populations. In the future, similar research could be replicated in other countries, including Russia, to enable cross-cultural comparisons and to gain a deeper understanding of psychological factors influencing life satisfaction and active self-realization among students.