1. Introduction
Different therapies can enhance individuals’ happiness (Barfarazi, Pourghaznein, Mohajer, Mazlom, Asgharinekah 2018; Ansari & Sabaei, 2019; Heidari, Amiri, & Amiri, 2016). Reality therapy has been effective in improving happiness. Reality therapy is derived from choice theory (Glasser, 2016), as a revision of control theory (Glasser, 1985). According to the choice theory, we are born with 5 basic needs, including love and belonging, power, freedom, fun, and survival (Wubbolding, 2013). In the choice theory, “quality world” is a set of small pictures, constituted based on the 5 basic needs shortly after the birth and re-create during life (Wubbolding, 2013).
The content of the pictures constitutes of people we want to be with, the things we prefer to own or experience, and the set of beliefs that govern our behaviors (Glasser, 2016). In choice theory training groups, counselors teach people to accept the responsibility of their behaviors, regardless of changing them. The procedure of sessions has to be based on WDEP to select effective choices. WDEP stands for wants, direction and doing, self- evaluation, and planning (Jusoh & Hussain, 2015). In this regard, some studies reported that having a meaningful life or perusing an appropriate goal are the important predictors of happiness (Klug &, Maier, 2015; Steca et al., 2016). Another study emphasized on the connectedness and social relations as the sociocultural source of love and belonging need in predicting happiness (Delhey & Dragolov, 2016).
Self-esteem, as a universal and crucial factor, is related to happiness in people (Brown, 2010). Childhood experiences, the reaction of immediate families, teachers, peers, and authorities develop our basic self-esteem (Yaratan & Yucesoylu, 2010). The locus of control, derived from Rotter social theory (Serin, Serin, & Sahin, 2010), is associated with self-esteem. In reality therapy, as one of the most recent psychotherapy approaches, the acceptance of responsibility, satisfaction of basic needs, and internal control lead to identifying success, related to self-esteem (Corey, 2002).The perception of reinforcements and punishments from the environment determine the internal or external type of the locus of control (Serin, Serin, & Şahin, 2010). 
Mateo & Datu (2012) conceptualized happiness using choice theory. The obtained data suggested that the need for love and belongingness, and the need for fun and enjoy were significantly associated with happiness. Thus, the happiness of Filipino adolescents was linked to their needs for love and belongingness and the need for fun and enjoyment. Howell, Chenot, Hill, & Howell (2011) found that the psychological need for satisfaction was correlated with momentary happiness and individual differences in life satisfaction which moderated this relationship. In this regard, when autonomy and relatedness needs are met, persons with high levels of life satisfaction experience increased happiness. 
Eslami, Hashemian, Jorjani, & Modarres (2013) argued that reality therapy improved the students’ happiness and its related components. Eslami, Hashemian, Jorjani, & Modarres (2013) also concluded that group reality therapy improves the quality of life, happiness, and the life satisfaction of adolescents with abusive parents in Mashhad.
Furthermore, Moradi Shahrbabak, Ghanbari, & Aghamohammadian (2011) investigated the effectiveness of reality therapy on improving self-esteem among the students of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The relevant results indicated a significant improvement in the self-esteem scores of the experimental group. It can be concluded that reality therapy emphasizes the freedom and responsibility of people and considers behavior as a choice made by the individuals, which affects their mental health. In this approach, health is determined by the sense of responsibility, living at the present moment, making informed choices, awareness about basic needs, and the ability to control problems (Wubbolding, Brickell, Imhof, Lojk, & AlRashidi, 2004).
The implementation of reality therapy in educational setting is recommended because of its effectiveness. In reality therapy, many maladaptive behaviors are considered as a method of satisfying unmet needs and save time spent on the diagnosis. The counselors help students evaluate their practices based on their need for satisfaction and find appropriate options to meet inner motivations (Wubbolding, 2018). Studies disregarded investigating the happiness and self-esteem of students by choice theory. As a result, the present study investigated the effect of choice theory principles on happiness and self-esteem. Glaser believes that choosing responsible behaviors can lead to a happier life (Glasser, 2016).
Happiness and self-esteem are correlated (Lyubomirsky, Tkach, DiMatteo, 2006); thus, we also considered these variables. University students who form a large number of populations have been endangered by a wide range of stressors that may cause educational failure, health problems, or maladaptive coping mechanisms. Students are among the most important and influential groups of the society and impact the future and progression of the country. Given the movement towards evidence-based practice in the field of counseling, happiness, and academic achievement are significantly associated with each other (Tabbodi, Rahgozar, Mozaffari, 2015). We aimed to assist students in improving their well-being and quality of life. Thus, the present study investigated the effectiveness of teaching choice theory principles on happiness and self-esteem in students.
2. Methods
Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (Argyle, Martin, & Crossland, 1989): This 29-item multiple-choice tool is partly adapted from the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI 1976). Each item of it is answered on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with the total scores ranging from 0 to 87. Higher scores indicate greater happiness. The respondents are requested to choose the item which best describes their feeling over the past week. According to Argyle et al., (1989), its internal reliability (using Cronbach alpha coefficient) and reliability (by test-retest during 7 weeks) were reported as 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. Alipour & Nour-bala (1999) calculated its internal reliability using Cronbach alpha coefficient as 0.98 in 101 students of Tehran Universities, and its test-retest reliability was 0.79 in a 3-week interval. In this study, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this questionnaire was obtained as 0.75.
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSC) (Rosenberg, 1965): This tool measures the overall self-esteem. The scale consists of 10 questions, 5 of which are negative, and 5 are positive. Each material has two answering options to agree and disagree. The minimum obtainable score for this scale is zero, and the maximum one is 10. The closer a person’s score is to 10, the higher their self-esteem. The RSC internal consistency ranges from 0.77 to 0.88. Its test-retest reliability ranges from 0.82 to 0.85. The criterion validity of this test is 0.55, and its construct validity in correlation with anxiety and depression is -0.64 and -0.54 (Rosenberg, 1965). Ansarin, Jalali, Setarehshenas, Mazloomi, Soltani-Arabshah (2006) calculated the internal consistency reliability of this questionnaire by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient equal to 0.84. Arshi, Sadeghi-Bazargani, Mohammadi, Soltan Mohammad Zadeh, Rouhi, Barak (2007) calculated the coefficient of retest for the whole scale with one, two and three weeks intervals as 0.77, 0.73, and 0.78, respectively. In this study, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this questionnaire was obtained as 0.79.
This was a quasi-experimental study with a Pre-test-post-test and control group design. The study population consisted of Qom universities. Prior to conducting the program, all study participants signed informed consent and completed demographic data questionnaire, RSC, and the oxford happiness inventory. Thirty students (7 males and 8 females per group) with low self-esteem (from -10 to +10) and happiness (40-42 out of 87) were randomly selected and assigned into the experimental and control groups.
The experimental group received 10 two-hour sessions every other day. The control group received no treatment. After completing the program, both groups completed the post-test questionnaires. The inclusion criteria were being 18-25 years old, being university students, the lack of suffering from psychotic disorders, no psychiatric medication use, the lack of receiving psychotherapy for at least 6 months, no substance abuse and no reported suicidal ideation. The exclusion criteria were absence from more than 3 sessions and any conditions preventing the subject from participating in the study. Table1 presents a description of 8 sessions. The obtained data were analyzed by the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).
3. Results
The Mean ± SD scores were calculated for descriptive purposes. The descriptive statistics of happiness and self-esteem are represented in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. The main analysis was computed using ANCOVA; because statistical studies revealed that controlling the baseline score is superior to pre-post comparisons and increases the test power. As per Table 3, F was not significant for the happiness and self-esteem; thus, the assumption of the equality of variance was confirmed. Considering the other assumption for data analysis, ANCOVA was used. 


 

Table 4 reveals that choice theory principles education significantly affected the happiness and self-esteem after adjusting the Pre-test score. The obtained results indicated that choice theory improved the scales mentioned above in the experimental group.

4. Discussion
The major assumption of choice theory regarding the satisfaction of basic needs suggests that students who feel free to make choices to express themselves, feel safe, and worthy, and make a satisfactory connection with others are happier than others (Turkdogan, & Turgut, 2011).
The study results are in line with Eslami, Hashemian, Jorjani, & Modarres (2013) and Eslami et al., (2013) findings reporting the effectiveness of choice theory on happiness. Although, studies on people encountering with many catastrophizing events such as wars, terrorism, and severe diseases indicated that psychological needs have a more vital role in creating happiness (Chen, Van Assche, Vansteenkiste, Soenens, & Beyers, 2015). Paul, Jose, Bee, Lim,  Fred, & Bryant. (2012) argued that happiness could be defined as the satisfaction of basic needs and in a collectivistic society in a social context. Collective society rewards behaviors that optimize connectivity through interpersonal skills (Reyes, 2005).
In self- determination theory, the satisfaction of psychological needs mainly connectivity, autonomy, and competence are essential in achieving positive psychological outcomes (David, 2014). Moreover, internally motivated individuals are more capable to experience life satisfaction (Howell et al., 2011). Autonomous people select their behaviors freely and consistent with their values and interest (Kasser & Ryan, 1996). Turkdogan   (2017) believed that survival needs could be considered as a control variable to explore how psychological needs predict happiness.
Reality therapy aims to assist individuals achieve self-responsibility and empowerment by emotional and cognitive independence, and maintain activity, meet the 5 basic needs (Sauerheber, Graham, Britzman, & Jenkins, 2016). In this regard, another finding was the effectiveness of choice theory program on self-esteem among the studied students. Glasser, the developer of reality therapy and Purkey, the co-founder of the International Association of Invitational Education encourage the development of most characteristics in people. They view self-esteem as a basis for action, behavior, and decision-making. They believe that students’ success depends on positive self-esteem enabling students to choose behaviors that provide reward, success, and acceptance of others (Zeeman, 2006). Faulkner & Burdenski (2011) pointed the relationship between the need for satisfaction and positive coping skills, internal locus of control, academic achievement, and success. According to Timothy, Judge & Joyce, Bono (2001) the relationship between self-esteem and internal control indicates that people whose source of control is internal have higher self-esteem. 
We found that choice theory positively affects individuals’ happiness and self-esteem. Happiness and self-esteem influence the quality of life and behaviors in different ways; thus, it is crucial to investigate those and in turn, improve individuals’ mental health. However, choice theory has been applied in psychology subjects beyond the therapeutic approach in adolescence related to social expectations derived from developmental commissions. The small sample size and the lack of follow-up assessment were among the study limitation that should be considered in future studies. In summary, due to the effectiveness of choice theory program on the happiness and self-esteem of students, assigning this program in the education system may enhance mental health capacities and prevent mental disorders.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
This research received the ethical approval from Qom Azad University Ethics Committee. The study participants were given written and verbal information about the study. The respondents were anonymous, and all the responses were treated confidentially.
Funding
This paper was extracted from the master thesis prepared by Hamidreza Fereydouni from Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education & Psychology, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan.
Authors' contributions
Conceptualization: All authors; Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources: Shima Tamannaeifar data curation, Writing-original draft preparation, Writing-review & editing: Hamidreza Fereydouni; Visualization, Supervision, Project administration: Abdollah Omidi.
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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