Predicting happiness and depression among Chinese undergraduates: The mediating role of gender and five-factor model

Xiaodong Yue

doi:10.54844/wsr.2024.0617

Authors

Xiaodong Yue Capital Normal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54844/wsr.2024.0617

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that gender plays a significant role in influencing happiness and mental well-being in happiness and depression in Chinese society concerning the Five Factor Model (FFM). The present study investigates gender differences in happiness and depression among Chinese undergraduate students as well as the mediating role of personality factors from the FFM. A total of 5,648 undergraduate students (aged between 17 and 29) were recruited from universities across China. Results indicated that females reported significantly higher happiness and higher depression than males. The findings suggest that females are more likely to express emotional feelings than males, such as gratitude and happiness. Furthermore, the results indicate that extraversion mediates the relationship between gender and both happiness and depression, while neuroticism mediates the relationship between gender and depression. Consistent with previous findings, the present study confirms that extraversion is the most reliable predictor of positive affect (e.g., happiness), whereas neuroticism is the most reliable predictor of negative affect (e.g., depression).

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