*Ph.D. Scholar in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar
**Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar
Online published on 30 September, 2013.
The objective of the study was to understand the meaning, causes, variations and coping strategies of happiness and unhappiness. Data was collected using scales, interviews and observation in the rural areas, on 50 head of the families. The respondents mostly belonged to OBC caste category and family structure varied from nuclear, lineal, and joint to collateral families. Data was analyzed manually and chi squares, net balances and cross tabulations were done. Findings of the study reveal that most respondents are unhappy in their life because their net balances are negative. Respondents have experienced achievement, life cycle events, social support and spiritual events as a source of happiness. These events promote their sustainability of livelihood. The sources of unhappiness are emphasized in terms of loss of life, loss of crop productivity, failure in life, loss of property, breach of trust and breakdown of social cohesion. Literature also supports these findings.
