EFFECT OF HAPPINESS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN SOUTH KOREA

Abstract

While academic success is undoubtedly the most important criterion for evaluating an educational structure, consideration should also be given to those aspects that can contribute to the structure's objectives. As a result, the emphasis should be on understanding the foundations upon which the best academic success can be attained. This means that factors that promote students' mental and emotional well-being are crucial to their academic success. Hence, the main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of happiness on the academic performance of international students in South Korea. Three happiness variables were retained: social relationships, educational environments, and financial support. A descriptive survey research design was adopted as the research design. The data used was collected through questionnaires from 281 international students in South Korea using a purposive sampling technique. Data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis, and Multiple Linear regression analysis was done with the help of coefficients, R², adjusted R², and P-values as validation techniques in SPSS. The findings conclude that social relationships and educational environments significantly affect academic performance, while financial support is insignificant. The study therefore recommended that the school administration focus more on enhancing social relationships and creating safe and welcoming environments for all, since they were found to positively influence the performance of foreign students.