Title: Subjective wellbeing of the Chinese post-reform generation: influence of family income and urban/rural origin on the happiness of Chinese students

Authors: Helmut Warmenhoven; Paul R.J. Hoebink; Jan M.A.M. Janssens

Addresses: Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN), Faculty of Social Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, United International College, 2000 Jintong Road, Tangjiawan, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, 519087, China ' Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN), Faculty of Social Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands ' Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Developmental Psychopathology, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper reports on a study among 711 Chinese students from the post-reform generation, comparing the subjective wellbeing of urban and rural students from different family income groups, using the Personal Wellbeing Index of the International Wellbeing Group. Urban participants were found to be more satisfied with their standard of living and their life-achievements than their rural counterparts, but no differences were found between these two groups for happiness, overall satisfaction with life, and the other five Personal Wellbeing Index satisfaction domains. In terms of family income level, participants from higher income families were found to be happier than participants from lower income families, and they were significantly more satisfied with their life (overall), as well as with their standard of living, life-achievement, personal relationships, feeling part of the community, and future (financial) security.

Keywords: China; SWB; subjective wellbeing; one-child generation; urban/rural area; adaptation effect; Chinese economic reforms; students; happiness; satisfaction; income; Personal Wellbeing Index; young people.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2019.104372

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2019 Vol.5 No.4, pp.279 - 297

Received: 21 Mar 2019
Accepted: 08 Jul 2019
Published online: 06 Jan 2020 *

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