Social Networks and Subjective Well-Being: A Comparison of Australia, Britain, and China

Yanjie Bian (), Mingsong Hao () and Yaojun Li ()
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Yanjie Bian: Xi’an Jiaotong University
Mingsong Hao: Xi’an Jiaotong University
Yaojun Li: Xi’an Jiaotong University

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2018, vol. 19, issue 8, No 15, 2489-2508

Abstract: Abstract This paper is a comparative study of formal and informal social networks and their effects on subjective well-being in Australia, Britain, and China. Formal social networks are measured by group affiliations, and informal social networks are measured by personal connections with kin, friends, and acquaintances. An analysis of the national representative sample surveys from the three countries shows that the formal networks are of notable importance in increasing people’s subjective well-being in Britain and urban China, but the informal networks have much greater impacts in all three countries, particularly in rural China. We propose a cultural–structural interaction framework to explain the observed differences in the network influence on subjective well-being in the three countries.

Keywords: Social networks; Subjective well-being; Australia; Britain; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-017-9926-2

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