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How the media construct happiness under cultural perspective in China: Through collectivistic and individualistic values

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  • Zhenhua Su
  • Qian Zhou
  • Yanyu Ye
  • Dongxiao Li

Abstract

Objective The attributes affecting happiness include endogenous material factors such as income and social comparison, and exogenous cultural factors like individual values and national ideology. And the latter is greatly affected by media in China. This study seeks to explore the influence path of media construction on happiness under cultural perspective in China. Methods Using Chinese General Social Survey 2015 data, we apply the ordered logit model to calculate the influence of the usage of television and Internet on happiness conspicuously. Results The use of television and Internet both have positive influence on happiness, and the influence path is that state media shapes collectivism and Internet shapes individualism. As the state‐controlled media in China, television continuously promotes nationalism and patriotism, thus strengthens audience's collectivistic value. Meanwhile, Internet which enjoys certain speech freedom in China boosts the user's individualistic value which makes a difference in promoting happiness. Conclusion The U‐shaped effect of “collectivism‐individualism” on happiness found in this paper empirically illustrates that collectivistic and individualistic values can both facilitate happiness, and also further shows that television and Internet can enhance happiness by influencing cultural values.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhenhua Su & Qian Zhou & Yanyu Ye & Dongxiao Li, 2021. "How the media construct happiness under cultural perspective in China: Through collectivistic and individualistic values," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(6), pages 2619-2639, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:102:y:2021:i:6:p:2619-2639
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xinxin Ma, 2023. "Internet usage and the income gap between self‐employed individuals and employees: Evidence from China," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1509-1536, August.

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