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Subjective Wellbeing in a Southwestern Province in China

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Abstract

Differences in subjective wellbeing were examined among 3,641 men and women in Yunnan, China. Using an urban Chinese sample, Appleton and Song in World Dev 36:2325–2340, (2008) reported that SWB was positively correlated with income, reporting good health, being married, female, and a Communist Party member. The current work examines how well these findings hold in the non-coastal province of Yunnan, by gender, and by urban/rural status.

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Notes

  1. The dependent variable was SWB as measured by self reported happiness. Respondents were asked: “I was happy.” They could choose between rarely (Less than 1 day during the past week), sometimes (1–2 days), occasionally (3–4 days) and mostly (5–7 days). Utilizing logistic regression, this variable was dichotomized between those who reported being at least occasionally happy compared to others. Given the use of secondary data, SWB was best measured using this variable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Elizabeth Monk-Turner

  2. University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO, USA

    Charlie G. Turner

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  1. Elizabeth Monk-Turner
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  2. Charlie G. Turner
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Monk-Turner.

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Monk-Turner, E., Turner, C.G. Subjective Wellbeing in a Southwestern Province in China. J Happiness Stud 13, 357–369 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-011-9268-4

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