Criteria for Happiness Among People Living in Extreme Poverty in Maputo, Mozambique

Abstract

The criteria for happiness of people living near the limit of survival needs in diverse cultural contexts allow us to understand the fundamental and universal or culturally specific sources of human happiness. Twenty-five participants (11 men, 14 women) from Maputo, Mozambique, M = 37.36; SD = 15.86 years old (19 to 80), reported a per capita monthly household income between 143 and 1,000 Meticals (3.86 and 27.03 USD). Participants responded to (a) a semistructured interview about happiness, criteria for happiness, positive and negative life events, and hopes and fears for the future and (b) a structured interview about satisfaction in specific life domains and comparative income. Only 16% of the participants reported being happy. Participants said that when basic needs are not satisfied happiness is impossible. Overall, satisfaction with life in specific domains was higher because of satisfaction in nonmaterial domains. The main criteria for happiness were having basic living conditions, a job, and positive relationships with family and neighbors. After survival needs were met, social, spiritual, and personal aspects of life became important for subjective well-being. Satisfaction with income was correlated with comparative income and not with objective income. Being able to provide wedding and funeral ceremonies and having good relationships with neighbors may be culturally specific criteria for happiness in Maputo. The breakup of marital relationships, family abandonment, and spousal infidelity (reported mainly by women) may be gender-specific sources of unhappiness in Maputo.