Orientations to Happiness and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents: The Roles of Prosocial Behavior and Internet Addictive Behavior

Researchers have studied individual’s pursuit of well-being through two perspectives: the eudaimonic perspective and the hedonic perspective. Peterson and his colleagues (2005) introduced their Orientations to Happiness scale, a self-report measure assessing individual’s pursuit of well-being that corresponds to these two perspectives. Specifically, the Life of Meaning subscale is the index of the eudaimonic pursuit; the Life of Pleasure subscale is the index of the hedonic pursuit. Previous research has demonstrated that orientations to happiness are positively associated with individual’s subjective well-being, whereas little research has addressed the mechanisms underlying the associations. Based on goal theory of happiness, the present study investigated how orientations to happiness were associated with subjective well-being by examining the indirect effects of the prosocial behavior and Internet addictive behavior in a sample of Chinese adolescents aged between 13 and 18 (N = 2082). The results showed that: (1) both life of meaning and life of pleasure were positively associated with adolescents’ subjective well-being; (2) prosocial behavior partially mediated the positive association between life of meaning and subjective well-being; and (3) prosocial behavior also partially mediated the positive association between life of pleasure and subjective well-being, whereas Internet addictive behavior undermined the positive association here. The findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms between orientations to happiness and subjective well-being.     

The Longitudinal Relationship Between School Belonging and Subjective Well-Being in School Among Elementary School Students

Situated within a positive psychology perspective, the present study explored the relationship between school belonging and subjective well-being (SWB) in school among elementary school students. In order to ensure the applicability of the Brief Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being in School Scale (BASWBSS) to elementary school students, firstly, we provided evidence for its validity using two samples (total n?=?1333) of elementary school students. Secondly, we used cross-lagged structural equation modeling techniques to evaluate the nature and directionality of relationships between school belonging and SWB in school. To test these relationships, 890 students (58.54 % male) completed a measure of school belonging and SWB in school at two time points, 6 weeks apart. The results showed that (1) BASWBSS has good applicability among elementary school students and (2) significant bidirectional relationships were found between school belonging and SWB in school. Overall, the present study provided important evidence of applicability of the BASWBSS with elementary school students and the role of school belonging in elementary school age children’s SWB in school.     

Self-Esteem and Body Satisfaction in Male and Female Elementary School, High School, and University Students

A total of 227 male and female elementary school, high school, and university students completed questionnaires concerning self-esteem, body satisfaction, and body build. Self-esteem was lower for female students than for male students overall, and for high school than for elementary school or university students. It was positively correlated with body satisfaction (cathexis, body image, weight satisfaction), but the regression analysis only predicted self-esteem by cathexis. The gender difference in self-esteem, and the relationship between self-esteem and cathexis, may develop as early as elementary school. Suggestions for future research are given.     

大学生人际信任与主观幸福感的关系:亲社会行为与攻击行为的中介作用

为考察大学生的人际信任对主观幸福感的影响机制以及亲社会行为和攻击行为的中介作用,采用人际信任问卷、亲社会行为问卷、攻击行为问卷、幸福感指数问卷对2256名大学生进行调查。研究结果显示:(1)人际信任正向预测大学生的主观幸福感,人际信任水平越高,主观幸福感越好;(2)人际信任通过亲社会行为与攻击行为的中介作用,间接影响主观幸福感。     

自尊在人格特质、社会支持与主观幸福感关系间的中介效应

以527名大学生为被试,采用问卷调查法探讨了自尊在人格特质、社会支持与主观幸福感关系间的中介效应。结果发现：（1）自尊在人格特质、社会支持预测主观幸福感的情感体验维度时具有中介效应,而在其预测主观幸福感的生活满意度时无中介效应;（2）自尊在社会支持与情感维度关系间的中介效应相对高于在人格特质与情感维度关系间的中介效应。     

中学生亲子依恋对主观幸福感的影响:师生关系及自尊的链式中介作用

为探究师生关系和自尊在中学生亲子依恋与主观幸福感关系之间的链式中介效应,使用亲子依恋问卷、师生关系量表、自尊量表、积极/消极情感量表和生活满意度量表对北京地区八所普通中学的2730名中学生进行调查。结果发现:(1)中学生亲子依恋、师生关系、自尊和主观幸福感显著相关。(2)中学生亲子依恋不仅直接影响其主观幸福感,而且还通过师生关系的中介作用、自尊的中介作用和师生关系—自尊的链式中介作用对主观幸福感产生间接效应。     

The Mediating Effects of Self-Esteem and Trait Anxiety Mediate on the Impact of Locus of Control on Subjective Well-Being

Sense of control plays an important role in the psychological well-being of an individual. This study aims to investigate the impact of locus of control on subjective well-being (SWB). Participants include 400 undergraduates (214 men and 186 women) from four universities in China. Data were collected using the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Trait Anxiety Scale, and SWB measures. Results suggested that locus of control, trait anxiety, and self-esteem were significantly correlated with SWB. Structural equation modeling results indicated that trait anxiety and self-esteem partially mediated the impact of locus of control on SWB. Moreover, bootstrap test revealed significant paths from locus of control to SWB through trait anxiety and self-esteem. Therefore, locus of control, trait anxiety, and self-esteem have significant impacts on SWB. Moreover, trait anxiety and self-esteem have a mediating effect on the impact of locus of control on subjective well-being.     

Collective and Individual Self-Esteem Mediate the Effect of Self-Construals on Subjective Well-Being of Undergraduate Students in China

Human psychology and behavior are influenced by culture. Self-construals reflect the individualism-collectivism dimension at the level of individual personality. The current study aimed to explore how self-construals affect subjective well-being (SWB) in China, which has a collectivist culture. Chinese undergraduates (N?=?442) participated in this study. They responded to the self-construal scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, collective self-esteem scale and measures of SWB. The results suggested that the type of self-construal significantly predicted SWB. Moreover, an individual’s self-esteem completely mediated the impact of independent self-construal on SWB, whereas interdependent self-construal influenced SWB directly, as well as indirectly though collective self-esteem. In addition, collective self-esteem promoted individual self-esteem, which in turn further stimulated SWB. These findings extend prior reports and shed light on how individual differences in self-construal affect SWB.     

Effects of Self-Esteem and Depression on Abnormal Eating Behavior among Korean Female College Students: Mediating Role of Body Dissatisfaction

Body dissatisfaction is widely acknowledged to exert considerable impact on abnormal eating behavior. Previous studies that reported the mediating role of body dissatisfaction between psychological variables and abnormal eating behavior mostly used western samples. The aim of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect association of psychological factors (i.e., self-esteem and depression) on abnormal eating behavior on a Korean sample. In addition, we examined a possible mediating effect of body dissatisfaction in this relationship. A sample of 502 Korean female college students enrolled in a private university participated in this cross-sectional study. Results indicated that self-esteem and depression did not have direct impacts on abnormal eating behavior. However, they did have indirect effects through the mediating factor, body dissatisfaction. Our findings suggest that students who have low self-esteem and high depression are likely to have higher levels of body dissatisfaction, and this, in turn, tends to be associated with greater abnormal eating behavior. Identification of this path has clinical implications in the development of programs to prevent abnormal eating behaviors among young female college students.     

中学生内在生活目标与主观幸福感的关系:基本心理需求的中介作用

为探究中学生内在生活目标、基本心理需求与主观幸福感的关系,采用内在生活目标量表、基本心理需求量表和主观幸福感量表对885名中学生进行问卷调查.结果表明:(1)男生的基本心理需求得分显著高于女生,独生子女的基本心理需求得分、主观幸福感得分显著高于非独生子女;(2)中学生内在生活目标、基本心理需求及主观幸福感两两均呈显著正...     

Subjective Well-Being During the 2008 Economic Crisis: Identification of Mediating and Moderating Factors

We examine the effects of the 2008 economic crisis on the reported subjective well-being (SWB) of nationally representative samples in 36 mainly European countries between 2002 and 2013. We study how SWB fluctuates along the business cycle, and how it is mediated by individual and country-level socioeconomic factors. Our key finding is that the economic crisis had a negative and S-shaped effect on SWB, implying diminishing marginal sensitivity at higher income losses and gains. During the economic downturn, roughly half of individual-level and macro-level determinants exhibit notable changes in significance and/or magnitude of the effect on SWB. This is taken as an indication of psychological adaptation and shifting reference frames. Five factors display an augmented effect on happiness and life satisfaction during the crisis (below-average income, the Gini index, attitude towards income equality, religiosity, and conscientiousness), while two determinants exhibit attenuated impact on the SWB measures (relationship status and unemployment rate).     

Leisure and Subjective Well-Being: A Model of Psychological Mechanisms as Mediating Factors

Leisure is a key life domain and a core ingredient for overall well-being. Yet, within positive psychology, its definition and the psychological pathways by which it evokes happiness are elusive (Diener and Biswas-Diener 2008). In this paper, we seek to address these issues by delineating leisure and presenting a conceptual framework linking leisure to subjective well-being (SWB). Leisure is defined as a multidimensional construct, encompassing both structural and subjective aspects. Respectively, it is the amount of activity/time spent outside of obligated work time and/or perceived engagement in leisure as subjectively defined. To explain the effects of leisure on SWB, a quantitative summary of theories from 363 research articles linking leisure and SWB was conducted. Based on our findings, we propose five core psychological mechanisms that leisure potentially triggers to promote leisure SWB: detachment-recovery, autonomy, mastery, meaning, and affiliation (DRAMMA). These psychological mechanisms promote leisure SWB which leads to enhanced global SWB through a bottom-up theory of SWB. We discuss how future research can use this conceptual model for understanding the interplay between leisure and SWB.     

Widowhood and the Subjective Well-Being of Older People in China: the Mediating Effects of Lifestyle

Applied Research in Quality of Life - Previous research has illustrated that lifestyle is correlated with widowhood and subjective well-being amongst older people; however, few studies have...     

初中学生道德推理、移情反应、亲社会行为及其相互关系的比较研究

抽取上海市初中三个年级217名学生为被试,通过对道德判断推理能力、移情反应、亲社会行为的测量和问卷调查,考察初中阶段学生在这三个方面的发展规律,以及三者之间的相互关系。结果显示：道德判断推理与亲社会行为、与移情能力之问没有显著相关;移情能力中的个别指标与亲社会行为之间相关显著;在移情反应、亲社会行为水平、以及助人动机、帮助方式等方面均存在显著的性别差异;故事呈现方式不同会对故事与自己相关程度产生影响。     

Spiritual Health and Resilience Among University Students: the Mediating Role of Self-Esteem

Pastoral Psychology - Due to the positive effects of resilience on different dimensions of health, the aim of this study was to propose and examine a model for a deeper understanding of the...     

初中生同伴依恋与生活满意度:班级自尊的中介作用

本研究采用问卷调查法选取了898名初中生完成《班级自尊量表》、《同伴依恋量表》和《总体生活满意度问卷》,以考察在学校环境中,同伴依恋、班级自尊与初中生生活满意度之间的关系。通过差异检验、相关分析、回归分析和结构方程建模等数据分析的结果表明:(1)初中生总体生活满意度随年级的升高呈下降趋势,男生的生活满意度高于女生;(2)初中生,同伴依恋和班级自尊均出现先降低后升高的U型趋势,初二年级水平最低;(3)初中生同伴依恋、班级自尊和生活满意度之间呈显著的正相关,且同伴依恋中的同伴信任和班级自尊中的成员自尊可显著正向预测初中生的生活满意度;(4)同伴依恋既可以直接影响初中生的生活满意度,又可以通过班级自尊的中介作用来间接影响其生活满意度,其中间接效应占总效应的36.11%。研究得出,班级自尊在同伴依恋对生活满意度的影响之间起部分中介作用。     

大学生社会支持与幸福感:社交自尊的中介作用

采用领悟社会支持量表、德克萨斯社会行为问卷和综合幸福感问卷对330位大学生进行调查,建立社会支持、社交自尊和幸福感的结构方程,考察社交自尊在社会支持与幸福感之间的中介作用。结果发现:(1)大学生社会支持对社交自尊和主观幸福感、心理幸福感都有显著的正向预测作用;(2)大学生社交自尊对主观幸福感和心理幸福感均具有显著的正向预测作用;(3)社交自尊在社会支持和主观幸福感、心理幸福感之间起到部分中介的作用,即社会支持直接对主观幸福感、心理幸福感产生影响,也可通过社交自尊间接影响主观幸福感、心理幸福感。     

Social Status and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Adults: Mediating Effect of Future Time Perspective

Applied Research in Quality of Life - Either objective or subjective social status is linked with subjective well-being (SWB) in a variety of ways. However, the exact mechanism underlying this...     

Analyzing the Relationship Between Social Capital and Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Social Affiliation

While previous studies have established social capital as an important determinant of subjective well-being (SWB), the broader social context people are living in has not received much attention in terms of SWB. To address this issue, we propose the concept of social affiliation, measuring the feeling of belonging to the social whole, of being a respected and valued member of society. In contrast to standard concepts of social capital, social affiliation is not related to an individual’s direct environment (‘Gemeinschaft’), but concerns one’s relation to society (‘Gesellschaft’). Such a subjective evaluation of how an individual feels within a broader societal context is neither covered by traditional concepts of social capital nor by the concept of social cohesion which focuses on the macro level. A perception of oneself as living on the margins of society, of not being a respected member of society, is very likely to diminish subjective well-being. At the same time, it can be expected to not be completely unrelated to individual resources of social capital. Drawing on unique survey data from Japan, we analyze the triangle relationship between social capital, social affiliation and subjective well-being applying a structural equation model. Our results have two main implications. First, we show that social affiliation has an effect on subjective well-being that is independent from the effect of standard measures of social capital. Second, we find that social capital influences social affiliation, and thereby also has an indirect effect on subjective well-being. In terms of theory building our results suggest that social embeddedness has two elements which should be measured separately: a community dimension usually measured as social capital in terms of trust, personal networks and norms, and a societal dimension of being and feeling part of a ‘Gesellschaft’, measured as social affiliation.