Measuring subjective well-being: A comparison of China and the USA

In this article the structure of subjective well-being (SWB), the relationship between household income and SWB and mean differences in components of SWB in China and the USA are investigated. Both China and the USA were characterized in a three-factor model of SWB (life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect). Household income was more strongly positively correlated with the three major components of SWB in China than in the USA. Lower levels of SWB were generally reported by participants in China than in the USA; however, there were mean differences in different regions of China.