Background: the present research represents the first systematic review of the literature on the relation between happiness (i.e., subjective well-being, life satisfaction, positive affect) and family functioning in families with children aged 6–18 years. Method: relevant articles were systematically searched in three scientific databases (i.e., PsycInfo, Pubmed, and Web of Science) in June 2022. The databases were searched for original articles published after 1968 with the keywords “happiness” and “family functioning.” Results: of the 2683 records recovered, 124 original articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The articles were divided according to four emergent themes: (1) family dimensions and happiness; (2) global family functioning (i.e., family functioning, and family relationships), environmental variables, and happiness; (3) parental differences; (4) longitudinal studies. Conclusions: the results of the review provide evidence for a positive relation between happiness and family functioning, across different cultures and age groups: Family dimensions (e.g., cohesion, communication) were found to strongly predict children’s and adolescents’ happiness. Future studies should investigate the differences between fathers and mothers using multi-informant and mixed methods procedures and a longitudinal research approach. The implications of the findings for children’s positive development are discussed.

Research interest in children’s happiness has increasingly grown in recent years. Studies of children’s happiness have shown that happiness promotes greater social and emotional well-being during childhood. The present study explores the different perspectives of children and their parents on happy moments spent together, examining potential discrepancies in points of view. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 154 children (6–13 years old: M_age=8.72, SD = 2.00; 57% girls), their mothers (M_age=42.30, SD = 4.50), and their fathers (M_age=45.47, SD = 5.42). Children were asked to indicate their level of happiness using a single item and to recount their happy moments spent with their fathers and mothers. Parents were asked to evaluate their children’s happiness and to identify what they thought was the happiest moment their children had experienced with them. The data was analyzed using Thematic Analysis. Six main themes related to children’s happy moments emerged from the transcripts: (1) Activities outside the home; (2) Shared activities between parents and children; (3) Happy moments of play between parents and children; (4) Parent-child moments of affection; (5) Relevance of material gifts; (6) Non-specified happy moments. Emotional interactions characterized the happiest moments reported with mothers, while those with fathers were more frequently playful and fun situations. Results showed that parents and children disagree on children’s happiness levels and tend to identify different episodes as the happiest moments spent together. The study examined parent-child interactions in the context of family happiness, considering the protective role of a child’s happiness against negative psychological symptoms. It aimed to identify components of happier moments as potential indicators of family well-being, given the family’s role in psychological development.

Research on happiness in preadolescence and adolescence has been limited regarding the sources of happiness. The present study aims to explore such sources in preadolescents and adolescents through a multi-method and multi-informant approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 77 family triads: children (age range: 11–19; M = 13.90, SD = 2.70; 61% female), mothers (M = 47.50, SD = 4.35), and fathers (M = 50.53, SD = 5.30). The triads were asked to define happiness from children’s perspective, describe what makes children happy, and indicate children’s levels of happiness. Using quantitative data, preadolescents exhibited higher individual happiness levels than adolescents, and fathers reported higher levels of children’s happiness than mothers. Through Thematic Analysis, five primary sources of happiness emerged: Social relationships, Family relationships, Personal interests, Achievement, and Entertainment. Social relationships was the most recurring theme across the narratives of both preadolescents/adolescents and parents. The second most recurring theme was Personal interests for preadolescents/adolescents and Family relationships for parents. Parents notably more frequently mentioned Achievement than children. Males displayed a higher propensity to report the Entertainment theme than females, while females reported the Family relationships and Social relationships themes more frequently. Preadolescents exhibited a higher occurrence of the Entertainment and Family relationships themes than adolescents. Regarding the concordance of themes between children and their parents, low overall levels of agreement were observed, all below 40%. The highest levels of concordance were found between mothers and fathers rather than between parents and children. The results could provide valuable insights to parents and educators on how to help youth promote their happiness.