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Orientations to Happiness and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents: The Roles of Prosocial Behavior and Internet Addictive Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Yang

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Peipei Li

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Xinyuan Fu

    (Central University of Finance and Economics)

  • Yu Kou

    (Beijing Normal University)

Abstract

Researchers have studied individual’s pursuit of well-being through two perspectives: the eudaimonic perspective and the hedonic perspective. Peterson and his colleagues (2005) introduced their Orientations to Happiness scale, a self-report measure assessing individual’s pursuit of well-being that corresponds to these two perspectives. Specifically, the Life of Meaning subscale is the index of the eudaimonic pursuit; the Life of Pleasure subscale is the index of the hedonic pursuit. Previous research has demonstrated that orientations to happiness are positively associated with individual’s subjective well-being, whereas little research has addressed the mechanisms underlying the associations. Based on goal theory of happiness, the present study investigated how orientations to happiness were associated with subjective well-being by examining the indirect effects of the prosocial behavior and Internet addictive behavior in a sample of Chinese adolescents aged between 13 and 18 (N = 2082). The results showed that: (1) both life of meaning and life of pleasure were positively associated with adolescents’ subjective well-being; (2) prosocial behavior partially mediated the positive association between life of meaning and subjective well-being; and (3) prosocial behavior also partially mediated the positive association between life of pleasure and subjective well-being, whereas Internet addictive behavior undermined the positive association here. The findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms between orientations to happiness and subjective well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Yang & Peipei Li & Xinyuan Fu & Yu Kou, 2017. "Orientations to Happiness and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents: The Roles of Prosocial Behavior and Internet Addictive Behavior," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 1747-1762, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:18:y:2017:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-016-9794-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-016-9794-1
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    1. Lung Chen & Ying-Mei Tsai & Mei-Yen Chen, 2010. "Psychometric Analysis of the Orientations to Happiness Questionnaire in Taiwanese Undergraduate Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 98(2), pages 239-249, September.
    2. Veronika Huta & Alan Waterman, 2014. "Eudaimonia and Its Distinction from Hedonia: Developing a Classification and Terminology for Understanding Conceptual and Operational Definitions," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1425-1456, December.
    3. Dianne Vella-Brodrick & Nansook Park & Christopher Peterson, 2009. "Three Ways to Be Happy: Pleasure, Engagement, and Meaning—Findings from Australian and US Samples," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 90(2), pages 165-179, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Diya Dou & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2021. "Concurrent and Longitudinal Relationships between Positive Youth Development Attributes and Adolescent Internet Addiction Symptoms in Chinese Mainland High School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-20, February.
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    5. Bryant Pui Hung Hui & Algae Kit Yee Au & Jacky Chi Kit Ng & Xinmiao Song, 2022. "From Social Networking Site Use to Subjective Well-Being: The Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Mediating Pathways of Prosocial Behavior among Vocational College Students in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Wenjie Li & Linting Zhang & Ning Jia & Feng Kong, 2021. "Validation of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised Scale in Chinese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-10, April.
    7. Wenjie Li & Linting Zhang & Chengcheng Li & Ningzhe Zhu & Jingjing Zhao & Feng Kong, 2022. "Pursuing Pleasure or Meaning: A Cross-Lagged Analysis of Happiness Motives and Well-being in Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 3981-3999, December.
    8. Jing Li & Meilin Yao & Hongrui Liu, 2021. "From Social Support to Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being: the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation and Prosocial Behavior and Gender Difference," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(1), pages 77-93, February.
    9. Mingyu Guo & Lingxiao Wang & Liang Zhang & Qingqing Hou & Jian Yang & Shumin Chang, 2023. "Placing Adolescents on a Trajectory to Happiness: The Role of Family Assets and Intentional Self-Regulation," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 945-966, March.
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    11. Zhijia Zeng & Hezhi Chen, 2020. "Distinct Associations of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives with Well-Being: Mediating Role of Self-Control," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-9, July.
    12. Hezhi Chen & Zhijia Zeng, 2021. "When Do Hedonic and Eudaimonic Orientations Lead to Happiness? Moderating Effects of Orientation Priority," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-12, September.
    13. Minh T. H. Le, 2023. "Does brand love lead to brand addiction?," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 57-68, March.
    14. Hezhi Chen & Zhijia Zeng, 2023. "Seeking Pleasure is Good, but Avoiding Pain is Bad: Distinguishing Hedonic Approach from Hedonic Avoidance Orientations," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 2377-2393, October.
    15. José M. Peiró & Malgorzata W. Kozusznik & Aida Soriano, 2019. "From Happiness Orientations to Work Performance: The Mediating Role of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-17, December.
    16. Baojie Zhang & Lifeng Yang & Xiangyang Cheng & Feiyu Chen, 2021. "How Does Employee Green Behavior Impact Employee Well-Being? An Empirical Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.
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    18. Daye Son & Laura M. Padilla-Walker, 2020. "Happy Helpers: A Multidimensional and Mixed-Method Approach to Prosocial Behavior and Its Effects on Friendship Quality, Mental Health, and Well-Being During Adolescence," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1705-1723, June.

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