Experiências e conceções de felicidade em adultos utilizadores e não utilizadores de redes sociais

Abstract

With the increasing use of social networks, attention has been increasingly focused on this topic. The importance of how these may or may not be, in the contemporary cultural environment, important agents of visibility reinforcement for an evident social imposition – being happy. In this investigation, a phenomenological study was carried out with the objective of describing and interpreting the experience of happiness associated with the use of social networks. Thus, this study had the participation of ten adults aged between 40 and 70 years, users and non-users of social networks. Using a semi-structured interview and a socio demographic questionnaire, the main results were the heterogeneity between users and non-users of social networks in terms of interest or not in them; the ambivalence of the participants' perspectives regarding the perception of the relationship between social networks and happiness; the different experiences of happiness in adults who use or do not use social networks. Thus, the relevance of this study makes it possible to compare how individuals of the same generation behave when one is or is not a user of social networks; it is also essential to promote and raise awareness of the importance of happiness and of being truly happy; avoid comparisons or live in an illusory happiness that is transmitted to us by social networks.

Date of Award	7 Feb 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Armanda Gonçalves (Supervisor)