Teori Easterlin Paradox mencadangkan bahawa individu berpendapatan tinggi cenderung untuk tidak menjadi lebih bahagia apabila pendapatan mereka meningkat. Jika keadaan berlaku dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia yang berpendapatan tinggi, maka apakah faktor bukan material lain yang boleh membahagiakan mereka? Kajian ini mengadaptasi model kajian daripada Laporan Kebahagiaan Dunia (WHR) untuk meneliti kesan kemurahan hati dan sokongan sosial terhadap kebahagiaan 393 individu daripada isi rumah berpendapatan tinggi (T20) di Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data dikumpul menggunakan teknik pensampelan mudah homogen dan dianalisis menggunakan teknik regresi berganda. Keputusan analisis regresi berganda (R2=57.6%) menunjukkan bahawa peningkatan pendapatan daripada T1 kepada T2 tidak mempunyai kesan yang signifikan terhadap kebahagiaan, namun kemurahan hati dan sokongan sosial mempunyai kesan positif yang signifikan dalam meningkatkan kebahagiaan individu T20. Walau bagaimanapun, kesan kemurahan hati (β=0.115; p<0.01) adalah lebih besar dan signifikan berbanding sokongan sosial (β=0.085; p<0.05) dalam meningkatkan kebahagiaan. Memandangkan peningkatan pendapatan tidak signifikan dalam meningkatkan kebahagiaan individu T20, kajian ini mencadangkan bahawa sebarang usaha untuk membangunkan strategi yang membina interaksi sosial yang utuh di kalangan ahli komuniti adalah penting. Ini bertujuan untuk memupuk individu masyarakat yang saling memberi sokongan sosial dan lebih bermurah hati kepada golongan yang memerlukan. Mekanisme ini dapat meningkatkan modal sosial dalam masyarakat dan seterusnya menyumbang kepada kebahagiaan.

Kata kunci: Kebahagiaan; isi rumah berpendapatan tinggi; sokongan sosial; kemurahan hati; Laporan Kebahagiaan Dunia (WHR)

Abstract: The Easterlin Paradox theory posits that high-income people tend not to become any happier when their income increases. If the situation occurs among high-income Malaysians, what other non-material factors could make them happy? This study adopted a research model from the World Happiness Report (WHR) to examine the effects of generosity and social support on the happiness of 393 individuals from high-income households (T20) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data were collected using homogeneous convenience sampling technique and analyzed using multiple regression technique. The results of multiple regression analysis (R2=57.6%) showed that increasing income from T1 to T2 had no significant effect on happiness, however generosity and social support had significant positive effects in raising T20 individuals' happiness. However, the effect of generosity (β=0.115; p<0.01) was larger and more significant than social support (β=0.085; p<0.05) in increasing happiness. Given that increased income was not significant in raising happiness among T20 individuals, this study suggests that any effort to develop strategies that build intact social interactions among community members is essential. This aims to foster community individuals who give each other social support and are more generous to the needy. This mechanism can enhance social capital in society and further contribute to happiness.

Keywords: Happiness; high income households; social support; generosity; World Happiness Report (WHR)

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