Effect of Help Programme on Happiness Level of Students in India
Raja Amarnath, Jaya Prashanthi, Manish Manchireddy, Bharath Madhavan, Gyaneshwar Dayal Sarin
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) July 20, 2023 DOI: 10.58614/cris271 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32,000 |
| Population | School students from multiple states in India |
| Interventions | Heartfulness meditation HELP Programme |
| Duration | 16-week program |
| Key findings | Students' mean happiness level increased significantly from 3.53 before the 'HELP Programme' to 3.73 after the 16-week Heartfulness meditation program. The authors report that demographic factors such as gender, residence, family type, physical illness, and prior meditation did not alter the program's effectiveness, and they argue the program can support students' learning and academic performance. |
Abstract
Background: 'HELP Programme' featuring Heartfulness meditation presents a compelling strategy to nurture happiness among students. Recognized as a crucial component of students' educational journey, it contributes to enhanced academic performance, motivation, and social relationships. Aims and
Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to examine the effects of the 'HELP Programme' on students' happiness levels and explore potential variations in happiness levels based on factors such as gender, age, and prior meditation experience.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and observational study was conducted between 2020 and 2021, involving school students from multiple states in India. A total of 32,000 students participated in the happiness level analysis. Prior to the introduction of Heartfulness meditation, the students were provided with questionnaires that gathered sociodemographic information and assessed their happiness using a scale. Following the completion of the 16-week program, the same questionnaires were administered to the students without any prior notification. The collected data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21, employing descriptive and inferential statistics such as counts, percentages, frequencies, and paired t-tests to compare mean levels between baseline and end line assessments.
Results: The findings revealed a significant increase in students’ happiness level (mb= 3.53< me= 3.73) (p<0.05) after the intervention of the HELP programme.
Conclusion: The study underscores the transformative potential of the HELP program through Heartfulness meditation on the happiness levels of students and has provided evidence that the intervention of the HELP program can enhance students' learning and academicperformance. Furthermore, revealing that various demographic characteristics such as gender, place of residency, type of family, physical illness, and engagement in meditation did not alter the reported effectiveness of the treatment.