Happiness Among Adolescents: The Role of Psychological Entitlement

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by significant psychological, physiological, and biological changes. These changes can influence adolescents’ mental health and overall happiness. Psychological entitlement, defined as an excessive sense of deservingness, has been linked to negative emotions and aggressive behaviors, potentially impacting happiness. This study aims to investigate the relationship between psychological entitlement and happiness among adolescents in Yogyakarta. It is hypothesized that there is a negative relationship between psychological entitlement and happiness among adolescents in Yogyakarta. A non-experimental quantitative research method was employed, involving 91 male and female adolescents in Yogyakarta. Data were collected using validated scales for psychological entitlement and happiness. The results indicated a negative correlation (r_xy=-0.209, p=0.047) between psychological entitlement and happiness. The coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.0437, suggesting that psychological entitlement accounts for 4.37% of the variance in happiness. The remaining 95.63% is assumed to be influenced by other factors not examined in this study. These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological entitlement to enhance adolescent happiness. Future research should explore additional variables that may impact happiness, such as marriage, age, health, religion, and environmental adaptation.

Keywords: adolescence, happiness, mental health, negative emotions, psychological entitlement