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Published on: May 29, 2020
Subjective well-being in China's changing society.
William A V Clark1, Daichun Yi2, Youqin Huang3
1Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095; wclark@geog.ucla.edu daichunyi@chfs.cn.
Summary
Rising subjective well-being and narrowing social gaps are observed in China. Factors like location, health, and social connections significantly impact life satisfaction, challenging previous pessimistic views on happiness.
Area of Science:
- Socioeconomic studies
- Psychological well-being research
- Urban and rural sociology
Background:
- Well-being is increasingly recognized as encompassing more than just income and wealth.
- Factors such as living environment and social interactions significantly influence life satisfaction.
- Previous studies on subjective well-being in China often highlighted declining happiness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reexamine subjective well-being in China amidst profound socioeconomic changes.
- To investigate the impact of geographic context and social capital on well-being.
- To challenge pessimistic views on China's well-being trends.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing detailed data from the China Household Finance Survey.
- Controlling for self-reported health status.
- Analyzing subjective well-being across diverse urban and rural Chinese environments.
Main Results:
- Demonstrating a rising trend in subjective well-being levels.
- Observing a narrowing disparity in well-being across various social indicators.
- Identifying health and family status as direct determinants of well-being.
Conclusions:
- The earlier pessimism regarding declining happiness in China may be unfounded.
- Subjective well-being is improving, and well-being gaps are diminishing.
- Social capital and geographic context are crucial dimensions for understanding well-being.
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