Relationship between the Career Selection Process and Happiness among Japanese School Teachers, Office Workers, and Nurses

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.