How the media construct happiness under cultural perspective in China

Through collectivistic and individualistic values

Bibliographic Data

ID10763871
AuthorsZhenhua Su (0000-0003-4166-7699, College of Media and International Culture Zhejiang University Hangzhou China), Qian Zhou (0000-0002-2319-1095, School of Public Affairs Zhejiang University Hangzhou China), Yanyu Ye (0000-0002-6348-4255, Law School Zhejiang University City College Hangzhou China), Dongxiao Li (0000-0003-1641-5545, College of Media and International Culture Zhejiang University Hangzhou China, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume102
Issue6
Pages2619-2639
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-4941 • E-ISSN: 1540-6237
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ssqu.13073
OpenAlexW3208406002
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited49

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

China · Collectivism · General Social Survey · Happiness · Individualism · Political science · Social media · Sociology · Value (mathematics) · Cultural Differences and Values · Mathematics · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Psychology

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