Gender differences in the impact on subjective well-being in China

Abstract

This article examines the relationship among subjective well-being (SWB), income and education in China through self-perceived social status. Men and women appear to use different socioeconomic markers to determine their self-perceived social status, which ultimately affects their subjective reports of well-being. By using the data from the 2010 China General Social Survey (CGSS), this study finds a positive association between income and SWB for women. The result also shows a positive association between education and SWB for men. Moreover, for women self-perceived social status is a strong mediator of income and happiness; while for men, self-perceived social status mediates the relationship between education and SWB. This study highlights the importance of the cultural influence in understanding the differences in self-perceived social status outcomes by gender and how these differences ultimately influence the subjective measures of well-being in China.