Author(s)

Nozomu Mandai^1,2*, Jun Sato², Mayumi Watanabe^3,4, Aki Ibe¹, Simon R. Downes⁵, Hiroyuki Umiyama², Atsuko Uchinuno¹

¹Faculty of Nursing Science, Tsuruga Nursing University, Tsuruga, Japan.
²Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan.
³Kansai University of Health Sciences, Osaka, Japan.
⁴Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵Avalon University School of Medicine, Willemstad, Curaçao.

Background: Happiness varies across the life course in a U shape, with the least happiness in mid-life during the working years. Therefore, choosing a career may be an important factor in life’s happiness. However, the relationship between the career selection process and happiness remains unclear. Methods: We surveyed 805 schoolteachers, office workers, and nurses from an available marketing database using an ad hoc questionnaire assessing happiness and career selection type. Results and Discussion: We found that happiness was significantly greater among schoolteachers and nurses than for office workers in Japan. Furthermore, among schoolteachers and office workers, an evasive/avoidance type of career-selection process had an unfavorable effect on happiness. However, among nurses, no such association was observed. Conclusion: Paying attention to the career-selection process may be helpful to improve happiness.

Happiness, Career Selection, Nursing, Teaching, Survey

Mandai, N. , Sato, J. , Watanabe, M. , Ibe, A. , Downes, S. , Umiyama, H. and Uchinuno, A. (2022) Relationship between the Career Selection Process and Happiness among Japanese School Teachers, Office Workers, and Nurses. Health, 14, 236-245. doi: 10.4236/health.2022.142018.