HAPPINESS AND COOPERATION

This study tested the hypothesis that cooperativeness is a cause of happiness. 114 Ss were given a 36-item scale for cooperativeness, together with measures of happiness, extraversion, neuroticism, MHQ, COMQ, and other scales. This was repeated 6 months later. In a multiple regression analysis happiness at Time 2 was predicted by one factor of the cooperation scale which was interpreted as enjoying group leisure activities. This factor also discriminated Ss initially low in happiness who became happier; those who started happy and became less so were low on another dimension of cooperativeness-interpreted as enjoying joint activities at work. Happiness was also predicted by extraversion, (low) mental health (MHQ), and age (youth). Mental health correlated negatively with cooperation, but was not predicted by it; it had a two-directional relationship with happiness. The total cooperative score was predicted by extraversion and sex (female), and the cooperative over leisure factor was predicted by sex and social skills (COMQ). © 1991.