Multicultural experience and young Chinese people’s subjective well-being: An indirect effect through self-construal

Abstract

Traditional Chinese culture promotes ingroup harmony and personal conformity, which facilitates a cultural tendency of perceived self-other similarity among Chinese people’s self-concepts. However, with increased exposure to foreign cultures due to globalization, many young Chinese may see themselves as more unique in relation to others via contrast and comparison. This shift in self-construal may facilitate the pursuit of a more positive self-view and enhanced personal happiness. Thus, it is expected that among Chinese people, multicultural experience would be positively linked to construing the self as different from others, which, in turn, would predict higher self-esteem and subjective well-being. An online survey study with 1387 Chinese adults aged below or equal to 40 years old was conducted to test these hypotheses. The results supported the hypotheses, showing that multicultural experience was indirectly associated with higher levels of self-esteem and subjective well-being through an increased tendency to construe the self as different from others. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.