Objective: To study the factors influencing happiness of grandmothers raising grandchildren in the rural areas of Northern Thailand.
Material and Method: Cross-sectional survey research was conducted among 400 grandmothers, aged 50-79 years, who raised their grandchildren in the rural areas of Northern Thailand. Participants were selected by cluster sampling. Data were collected through a structured interview from April to July 2009 and analyzed by frequency, percentage, Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, and Multiple regression analysis.
Results: Nearly half (46.8%) of grandmothers raising grandchildren had high level of happiness, followed by moderate level (40.4%) and low level (12.8%). The factors, which significantly influenced the happiness of the grandmothers, were selfesteem, social support, and family relationships (p-value <0.05). In addition, self-esteem, social support, and family relationships could significantly predict happiness of the grandmothers by 48.1%. Self-esteem had the highest predictive power of happiness among grandmothers.
Conclusion: The factors influencing happiness of grandmothers raising grandchildren were self esteem, social support, and family relationships. To promote happiness of grandmothers, responsible organizations should establish activities that enhance the grandmother’s self-esteem, provide sufficient social support, and promote good family relationships.

Keywords: Happiness, Grandmother raising grandchildren, Self-esteem, Social support, Family relationship