IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v26y2025i6d10.1007_s10902-025-00913-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Subjective Well-Being and Education in China: The Moderating Role of Educational Position

Author

Listed:
  • Li Liao

    (Northwest Normal University)

  • Aihong Li

    (Nanjing University)

Abstract

Previous research consistently highlights the link between educational attainment and subjective wellbeing, positioning education as a significant indicator of life satisfaction. However, the pathways through which education influences wellbeing, particularly the concept of education as a positional good, remain underexplored. This study applies six waves of data from Chinese General Social Survey and utilizes the data from China Population and Employment Statistical Yearbook to evaluate relative educational standing. By incorporating Educational Competitive Advantage Scores, as a measure of educational position from the Chinese General Social Survey into a Hierarchical Linear Model, we investigate the interplay between educational position, income, and subjective wellbeing. The results suggest that individuals with higher educational positions report significantly better subjective wellbeing. In addition, educational position also modifies how the absolute educational attainment (years of schooling) and income make an impact on subjective wellbeing. This study contributes to the growing literature on educational attainment and subjective wellbeing against the backdrop of rapid educational expansion and credential inflation, offering insights into the how both the absolute and relative educational attainment make a difference on subjective wellbeing in the Chinese context.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Liao & Aihong Li, 2025. "Subjective Well-Being and Education in China: The Moderating Role of Educational Position," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(6), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-025-00913-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-025-00913-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-025-00913-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-025-00913-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wan-chi Chen, 2012. "How Education Enhances Happiness: Comparison of Mediating Factors in Four East Asian Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 106(1), pages 117-131, March.
    2. Sijia Liu & Almas Heshmati, 2023. "Relationship between education and well-being in China," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 25(1), pages 123-151, June.
    3. Joseph Schaafsma, 1976. "The Consumption and Investment Aspects of the Demand for Education," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 11(2), pages 233-242.
    4. Lamberton, D. McL., 1977. "Social Limits to Growth," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 60-67.
    5. Ed Diener & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2002. "Will Money Increase Subjective Well-Being?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 119-169, February.
    6. Ferdi Botha, 2014. "Life Satisfaction and Education in South Africa: Investigating the Role of Attainment and the Likelihood of Education as a Positional Good," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 555-578, September.
    7. Kirsten Stam & Inge Sieben & Ellen Verbakel & Paul M de Graaf, 2016. "Employment status and subjective well-being: the role of the social norm to work," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 30(2), pages 309-333, April.
    8. Cheng, Zhiming & King, Stephen P. & Smyth, Russell & Wang, Haining, 2016. "Housing property rights and subjective wellbeing in urban China," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 45(S), pages 160-174.
    9. Michael C. Barth, 1977. "Review: Generating Inequality: A Review Article," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 12(1), pages 92-102.
    10. Mentzakis, Emmanouil & Moro, Mirko, 2009. "The poor, the rich and the happy: Exploring the link between income and subjective well-being," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 147-158, January.
    11. Donghwan Kim, 2018. "Cross-National Pattern of Happiness: Do Higher Education and Less Urbanization Degrade Happiness?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(1), pages 21-35, March.
    12. Tao, Dongjie & He, Lingyun & Hamilton, Jonathan & Xu, Ding, 2021. "Children's marriage and parental subjective well-being: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    13. Peigang Wang & Tyler VanderWeele, 2011. "Empirical Research on Factors Related to the Subjective Well-Being of Chinese Urban Residents," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 101(3), pages 447-459, May.
    14. Franz Heukamp & Miguel Ariño, 2011. "Does Country Matter for Subjective Well-Being?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 155-170, January.
    15. John H Goldthorpe, 2014. "The role of education in intergenerational social mobility: Problems from empirical research in sociology and some theoretical pointers from economics," Rationality and Society, , vol. 26(3), pages 265-289, August.
    16. Wen-Chun Chang, 2013. "Climbing up the Social Ladders: Identity, Relative Income, and Subjective Well-being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 113(1), pages 513-535, August.
    17. Anning Hu, 2015. "The Changing Happiness-Enhancing Effect of a College Degree Under Higher Education Expansion: Evidence from China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 669-685, June.
    18. Angelina Wilson Fadiji & Tim Lomas, 2024. "Understanding the Association Between Education and Wellbeing: An Exploration of the Gallup World Poll," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(5), pages 2467-2501, October.
    19. Juncal Cuñado & Fernando Gracia, 2012. "Does Education Affect Happiness? Evidence for Spain," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 108(1), pages 185-196, August.
    20. Welch, F, 1970. "Education in Production," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 78(1), pages 35-59, Jan.-Feb..
    21. Eugene A. Kroch & Kriss Sjoblom, 1994. "Schooling as Human Capital or a Signal: Some Evidence," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 29(1), pages 156-180.
    22. Alessa K. Durst, 2021. "Education as a Positional Good? Evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 745-767, June.
    23. D. Mahadea & T. Rawat, 2008. "Economic Growth, Income And Happiness: An Exploratory Study," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 76(2), pages 276-290, June.
    24. Nikolaev, Boris, 2016. "Does Higher Education Increase Hedonic and Eudaimonic Happiness?," MPRA Paper 78438, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    25. Alex Michalos, 2008. "Education, Happiness and Wellbeing," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 87(3), pages 347-366, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ferdi Botha, 2014. "Life Satisfaction and Education in South Africa: Investigating the Role of Attainment and the Likelihood of Education as a Positional Good," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 555-578, September.
    2. Satoshi Araki, 2022. "Does Education Make People Happy? Spotlighting the Overlooked Societal Condition," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 587-629, February.
    3. Donghwan Kim, 2018. "Cross-National Pattern of Happiness: Do Higher Education and Less Urbanization Degrade Happiness?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(1), pages 21-35, March.
    4. Xiaoting Zheng & Jiayue Chen & Yipeng Li, 2021. "The association between charitable giving and happiness: Evidence from the Chinese General Social Survey," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(6), pages 2103-2138, December.
    5. Alessa K. Durst, 2021. "Education as a Positional Good? Evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 745-767, June.
    6. Angelina Wilson Fadiji & Tim Lomas, 2024. "Understanding the Association Between Education and Wellbeing: An Exploration of the Gallup World Poll," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(5), pages 2467-2501, October.
    7. Yee Ngoo & Nai Tey & Eu Tan, 2015. "Determinants of Life Satisfaction in Asia," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 141-156, October.
    8. Mingzhi Hu & Wenping Ye, 2020. "Home Ownership and Subjective Wellbeing: A Perspective from Ownership Heterogeneity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1059-1079, March.
    9. Naiwei Chen & Ho-Chyuan Chen, 2021. "Religion, Marriage and Happiness – Evidence from Taiwan," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(1), pages 259-299, February.
    10. Anning Hu, 2015. "The Changing Happiness-Enhancing Effect of a College Degree Under Higher Education Expansion: Evidence from China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 669-685, June.
    11. Jin, Yuchang & Li, Zinan & An, Junxiu, 2020. "Impact of education on Chinese urban and rural subjective well-being," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Robert J. Klein & Michelle M. Englund, 2021. "Developmental Pathways to Adult Happiness: Social Competence and Timely High School Graduation," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 3023-3041, October.
    13. Griliches, Zvi, 1997. "Education, Human Capital, and Growth: A Personal Perspective," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(1), pages 330-344, January.
    14. Jiachang Gao & Yuhan Wang & Mei Zhang & Zenghui Huo, 2022. "Group Heterogeneity of Rural Households’ Satisfaction with Good Life from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization—A Case Study from Zhejiang Province of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, April.
    15. Rubén Arrondo & Ana Cárcaba & Eduardo González, 2021. "Drivers of Subjective Well-being in Spain: Are There Gender Differences?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(5), pages 2131-2154, October.
    16. Neyt, Brecht & Vandenbulcke, Sarah & Baert, Stijn, 2018. "Education Level and Mating Success: Undercover on Tinder," IZA Discussion Papers 11933, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Grimani, Katerina, 2014. "Labor earnings and Psychological well-being: An Empirical Analysis," MPRA Paper 57098, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Hania Wu & Tony Tam, 2015. "Economic Development and Socioeconomic Inequality of Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Time-Series Analysis of Urban China, 2003–2011," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(2), pages 401-425, November.
    19. Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Lekfuangfu, Warn N. & Wooden, Mark, 2015. "What's the good of education on our overall quality of life? A simultaneous equation model of education and life satisfaction for Australia," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 10-21.
    20. Francesco Ferrante, 2017. "Great Expectations: The Unintended Consequences of Educational Choices," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 745-767, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-025-00913-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.