Level of Happiness among Tribal and Urban Adults: A Comparative Study

Happiness is a positive emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment and fulfillment. The present study aimed to analyze and compare the level of happiness among tribal and urban adults. The research was conducted on 57 tribal (28 Male & 29 Female) and 60 urban adults (30 Male & 30 Female) between the age range of 20-80 years. The tribal respondents belonged to Jenu kuruba tribes who were relocated from Nagarahole Reserved Forest to Shettihalli Haadi of Mysore district; whereas the urban respondents were the residents of Mysuru City. Random sampling method was adopted while selecting the subject’s during the survey. Happiness Scale (HS-RHM) was used to assess the level and different aspects of happiness. The final results portray that the level of happiness among tribes was above average when compared to urban individuals. However similar level of happiness was recorded among men and women tribes; whereas early, middle and late adult tribes were also observed to be equally happy. The research study indicated that the tribes had greater level of happiness when compared to the urban adults which is attributed to the higher social and spiritual wellbeing among the tribes.