A Preliminary Study for the Development of a Happiness Education Program for Military Families

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of life and happiness among military spouses and to provide foundational data for developing a happiness education program tailored to military families. A mixed methods design was employed, including focus group interviews with 10 participants and a quantitative survey of 499 respondents. Results indicated that military families experience emotional isolation and parenting stress due to frequent relocations, prolonged spousal absences, and limited support networks. The greatest needs for happiness education were related to enhancing relationships, finding meaning in life, and achieving personal goals. Respondents favored short-term, activity-based programs that could be easily applied in daily life. These findings offer meaningful implications for the development of PERMA-based happiness education programs that reflect the lived experiences and needs of military families.