Senior Project Advisor

Scollon, Christie Napa

Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 2020

Keywords

Subjective Well-Being, Satisfaction with Life

Abstract

This review aims to uncover how consistent the finding is that Asian Americans experience lower levels of subjective well-being than European Americans, and why these differences exist. Happiness is desired by many and increases in happiness have positive effects on health and well-being. Perceptions of happiness vary across cultures due to differences in values and cultural structures. Asian American subjective well-being is a particularly interesting area of study due to the finding that Asian Americans have the highest level of education and income compared to other ethnic groups in America, yet they tend to have lower levels of well-being. After totaling scores on the Satisfaction with Life Scale from 33 studies measuring Asian American, European American, and Asian populations, we found that Asian Americans score significantly lower on the Satisfaction with Life Scale than European Americans indicating lower subjective well-being. Asian American scores did not significantly differ from Asian scores on the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Differences in cultural values, acculturation, interpretations of positive and negative events, family dynamics, and discrimination are all contributors to why Asian Americans experience lower subjective well-being and these factors are discussed in depth. Implications, limitations, and future directions are also highlighted.

Department

Psychology

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Asian Americans; Well-being; European Americans; Asians

Genre/Form

student projects; term papers

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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Included in

Psychology Commons

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