Zhongyong thinking and subjective well-being among Chinese undergraduate students: Prosocial behavior as a mediator

Researchers have maintained that subjective well-being is not only a measure of quality of life but also has basic significance for mental health; however, a detailed investigation is needed of how culture influences subjective well-being. I investigated the prevalence of Zhongyong thinking, evaluated the relationship between Zhongyong thinking and subjective well-being among Chinese undergraduate students, and measured the mediating effect of prosocial behavior on this association. Data were collected from 657 Chinese undergraduate students aged 18–24 years, who anonymously completed the Zhongyong Thinking Style Scale, the Prosocial Behavior Scale, and the Subjective Well-Being Scale. The results showed that Zhongyong thinking was positively related to both prosocial behavior and subjective well-being, and that prosocial behavior partially mediated the relationship between Zhongyong thinking and subjective well-being. The findings offer meaningful implications for improving the subjective well-being of Chinese undergraduate students and give a more detailed way to describe subjective well-being.