The Effect of Self-Regulation Strategies Training on Happiness in Students: Gender Comparison

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of self-regulation strategies training on students' happiness. The research method was quasi-experimental. It also utilized pretest-posttest and follow up design with control group. The sample consisted of 60 high school male and female students who were selected by multistage cluster sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The research instrument was Oxford Happiness Questionnaire which the students completed in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The experimental group received 8 sessions of 45 minutes self-regulation strategies training. The results of ANOVA with repeated measures showed that the differences between mean score of happiness of the experimental group and the control group after training was significant and higher for the experimental group (p≤0.01). The results of the post hoc test (LSD) showed that the mean score of happiness in the post-test and follow-up stages was higher than the pre-test and the mean score of girls’ happiness in the post-test and follow-up stages was higher than boys in the same stages. According to these results, it is concluded that training self-regulation strategies can be effective in enhancing student happiness.

Keywords

• methods learning
• self-regulation
• happiness.gender