A Top Model of Urban Residents’ Subjective Well-Being in China

• Published in: SAGE open Vol. 14; no. 4
• Main Authors: Pan, Bing, Kerstetter, Deborah, Yi, Xiaoli, Zhang, Gaojun, Li, Rui, Gao, Jie, Shen, Xiangyou Sharon, Li, Guangming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 01.10.2024
• ISSN: 2158-2440; 2158-2440
• DOI: 10.1177/21582440241289744

Past research on subjective well-being (SWB) in Western society and China has revealed various contributing factors. This study conducted a series of interviews with Chinese urban residents to systematically analyze those factors based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory. The results revealed that 5 layers, 23 factors, and 55 elements, many of which had distinct Chinese characteristics, contributed to Chinese urban residents’ SWB. The Top Model of SWB, visualized as a spinning top or gyroscope, showcased the interdependent layers of factors impacting Chinese urban residents’ SWB. At its vertical axis is a time dimension as residents often reflect on factors by comparing their present situation with the past and the future. Discussion regarding each layer, the primary factors that comprise each layer, links between the layers, and the impact of a time dimension was included to substantiate the proposed model. The discussions focus on the study’s contribution to SWB literature, public policy-making, and future research on urban Chinese residents’ SWB. Plain Language Summary What factors determine the happiness of Chinese urban citizens? This study interviewed 65 citizens in Shenzhen with various ages, professions, and income levels to analyze the factors that impact their happiness. Based on Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System Theory, the authors identified five layers, 23 factors, and 55 elements that contribute to happiness. These factors form a spinning gyroscope, with the personal, family, community, city, and nation layers forming from the innermost to the outermost layers. The vertical axis of the gyroscope represents the time dimension, as residents often reflect on factors by comparing their present situation with the past and the future. Many of these factors have unique Chinese characteristics, such as a focus on family, the huge gap between salaries and apartment ownership, and the importance of the Hukou status. The results of this study call for changes in government policies to support lower-income Shenzhen citizens and avoid frequent policy changes.