A Study on the Influence of Community Participation on Happiness in Organic Villages

• Main Authors: Chen,Shu-Yun , 陳淑雲
• Other Authors: Chen,Mei-Fen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/hks636

碩士 === 國立臺東大學 === 健康促進與休閒管理碩士在職專班 === 100 === Organic agriculture is born of a common philosophy and goals among agricultural communities. Concern for organic issues, recognition and support from the community, increased interpersonal interaction, and an emphasis in the importance of the environment are all elements of community participation that have subtly influenced the perceptions and satisfaction of community members toward their lives. We adopted this viewpoint in analyzing the differences between community participation and happiness and explored the influence of the former on the latter. This study employed convenience sampling for a questionnaire survey of residents from three communities in Fuli Township, Taiwan. A total of 319 valid questionnaires were recovered for analysis. Results show that the following variables are associated with significant differences in community participation: gender, average monthly earning, marital status, living conditions, participation as a volunteer, and participation in other organizations or associations. Happiness was significantly influenced by age, level of education, occupation, average monthly earning, marital status, living conditions, and participation in other organizations. In addition, three constructs of community participation exerted a significantly positive influence on overall happiness: presence, involvement, and wholehearted engagement. Based on the conclusions of this study, we propose the following suggestions. Communities should organize diverse activities to increase the willingness of members to participate in activities and boost the attendance rates. They should also establish a community support system to enhance personal skills and increase feelings of self-worth, encourage community members to participate in other associated organizations or increase their participation, strengthen social networks, create safe living spaces, and develop healthy volunteer and association systems.