How Institutional Evaluation Bridges Uncertainty and Happiness: A Study of Young Chinese People.

Ying Wu,Guangqiang Qin,Chuanyi He,Wenying Wang

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.651844

Ying Wu, Guangqiang Qin + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.651844

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Abstract

Uncertainty triggers negative psychological responses, while positive institutional evaluations elevate the sense of control in individuals and satisfy their need for structure and order. Data from the 2015 Chinese Social Survey (CSS) (N = 4,605) demonstrated that objective uncertainty negatively predicted the happiness of young people (aged 18–45 years). However, this negative relationship was attenuated among those who evaluated the institutional system (e.g., social security, local government effectiveness, and trust in government) positively; in other words, positive institutional evaluation may have protected people's happiness from the threat of uncertainty. In addition, participants from different age groups evaluated the institutional system differently. The first generation born after the Chinese economic reform, which includes young people born in the 1980s (aged 26–35 years), had unique experiences compared to the preceding (aged 36–45 years, born in the 1970s) and succeeding (aged 18–25 years, born in the 1990s) generations. Among the three age groups, young people born in the 1980s held the least positive evaluation of the institutional system. The institutional evaluation also showed the weakest moderating effect on this group's happiness.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the sense of uncertainty among people across the world, resulting in greater intergroup conflicts and extreme behaviors
The results revealed that the level of objective uncertainty was negatively correlated with happiness, whereas institutional evaluation was positively correlated with happiness
The results suggest that the moderating effect of institutional evaluation on uncertainty and happiness was significantly different between age groups

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the sense of uncertainty among people across the world, resulting in greater intergroup conflicts and extreme behaviors. Several studies have reported that people experienced more severe psychological distress and reduced well-being and increased alcohol use during the pandemic (Kikuchi et al, 2020; Tran et al, 2020; De Sio et al, 2021). The cumulative effects of uncertainties result in negative, or even extreme, psychological responses among people. Social systems allow individuals to experience higher levels of satisfaction and happiness by increasing positive emotions in people (Wakslak et al, 2007).

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