Filial piety and life satisfaction among Chinese students: Relationship harmony as mediator

Abstract

We tested the mediation effect of relationship harmony in the psychological mechanisms underlying the effect of filial piety (FP) on life satisfaction. Participants were 381 undergraduate students (200 women and 181 men) at 3 universities in China who completed the Filial Piety Scale, the Interpersonal Relationship Harmony Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results of structural equation modeling showed that reciprocity FP had a significant positive direct effect on life satisfaction. Further examination revealed that the link between FP and life satisfaction was significantly mediated by relationship harmony. Thus, improving the levels of FP and relationship harmony may function as methods to help students maintain their life satisfaction. Our findings augment the burgeoning body of research in which the function of FP in various facets of life is being investigated, and provide theoretical and practical implications.