Open AccessStratification of Happiness in Urban Areas in Mexico: A Qualitative Examination by Level of Marginalization
Author(s) -
Óscar Alfonso Martínez Martínez,
Javier Escalera Reyes,
Eder Noda
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2021.5045
Subject(s) - happiness , poverty , qualitative research , social psychology , meaning (existential) , thematic analysis , sociology , latin americans , affect (linguistics) , inequality , phenomenon , psychology , gender studies , socioeconomics , political science , social science , mathematical analysis , physics , mathematics , communication , quantum mechanics , law , psychotherapist
Although Mexico presents high levels of poverty and marginalization, it is the second happiest nation in Latin America. This raises several questions about what factors are associated with happiness at each level of marginalization and how these factors vary according to marginalization levels. We conducted a qualitative study in urban municipalities in four Mexican states, using 184 semi-structured interviews and employing a thematic analysis approach. Results suggest that happiness is a multifactorial phenomenon. Factors such as the family, health, religion, friendships, economic conditions, and fulfillment of basic needs contribute to happiness, but each of these aspects has different importance and meaning based on the level of marginalization. Evidence also shows that unhappiness is more homogeneous, regardless of the level of marginalization; thus, we can find people in both low marginalized and high-marginalized contexts that are unhappy. The research findings are relevant for the design of public policies, because they show various unsatisfied needs by level of marginalization and how not having them may affect happiness in each social stratum.