Subjective wellbeing across Subjective wellbeing across cultures: cultures:

why do differences exist?why do differences exist?

Daisung Jang and Do-Yeong Daisung Jang and Do-Yeong KimKim

Department of Psychology,Department of Psychology,

Macquarie UniversityMacquarie University

Sydney, AustraliaSydney, Australia

NB. Please view via ‘Notes page’. You can then progress through the document using your mouse wheel, Page Down key, or the double-headed arrow to the right of this frame.

Collectivism and Collectivism and IndividualismIndividualism

Triandis (1995, 2000) and Markus and Triandis (1995, 2000) and Markus and Kitayama (1991,1994)Kitayama (1991,1994)

CollectivismCollectivism Importance of interpersonal relationshipsImportance of interpersonal relationships Tendency to rely or to be interdependentTendency to rely or to be interdependent

IndividualismIndividualism Importance of freedom and autonomy of Importance of freedom and autonomy of

the selfthe self Social interactions characterised by Social interactions characterised by

expectation of fair exchangeexpectation of fair exchange

Implicit and Explicit Implicit and Explicit WellbeingWellbeing

Do cross cultural differences exist in Do cross cultural differences exist in self reported and implicit appraisals self reported and implicit appraisals of life satisfaction?of life satisfaction?

What is the nature of these What is the nature of these differences in Asian and European differences in Asian and European Australians?Australians?

How can these differences be How can these differences be attributed to differences in culture?attributed to differences in culture?

Differences in Self Reported Differences in Self Reported WellbeingWellbeing

Personal versus collected sense of wellbeingPersonal versus collected sense of wellbeing Culture is an organising framework that Culture is an organising framework that

influences how people process information influences how people process information ((Kitayama, Duffy, Kawamura, & Larsen, 2003Kitayama, Duffy, Kawamura, & Larsen, 2003)), then , then cross cultural differences in wellbeing may cross cultural differences in wellbeing may also be a result of differential processing of also be a result of differential processing of information relevant to wellbeing judgementinformation relevant to wellbeing judgement

Diener (Diener (19841984) proposed one such model in ) proposed one such model in the way wellbeing may be differentially the way wellbeing may be differentially processed; top down and bottom up processed; top down and bottom up processesprocesses

Top down approach to life Top down approach to life satisfactionsatisfaction

Internal Criteria

Life events

Life events

Final score is achieved by

comparison of internal criteria and

life events

Life events

Bottom up approach to life Bottom up approach to life satisfactionsatisfaction

Final score is achieved by integrating positivity / negativity of life events

Life eventsLife events

Life events

Implicit Notions of Implicit Notions of WellbeingWellbeing

Self reported levels of wellbeing may be affected by Self reported levels of wellbeing may be affected by culturally specific influences (culturally specific influences (Kitayama & Uchida, 2003Kitayama & Uchida, 2003))

An implicit appraisal of wellbeing is one that is not An implicit appraisal of wellbeing is one that is not only held against conscious decision, but also an only held against conscious decision, but also an appraisal that is made/accrued over time (appraisal that is made/accrued over time (Kim, 2004Kim, 2004))

Implicit notions of wellbeing may provide a bias Implicit notions of wellbeing may provide a bias reduced way of assessing wellbeingreduced way of assessing wellbeing

Simultaneous use of self reported and implicit Simultaneous use of self reported and implicit (multimethod approach) levels of wellbeing may be (multimethod approach) levels of wellbeing may be useful in determining how cross cultural differences useful in determining how cross cultural differences arisearise

Implicit Notions of Implicit Notions of WellbeingWellbeing

If the evidence shows that culturally If the evidence shows that culturally consistent notions of wellbeing are consistent notions of wellbeing are more important, then the degree to more important, then the degree to which implicit measures show / do which implicit measures show / do not show similar patterns of results not show similar patterns of results could add to the explanation of why could add to the explanation of why cross cultural differences emergecross cultural differences emerge

ManipulationManipulation

Positive mood is also known to be Positive mood is also known to be important in consideration in judging life important in consideration in judging life satisfaction in individualist and satisfaction in individualist and collectivist cultures (collectivist cultures (Suh, Diener, Oishi, & Suh, Diener, Oishi, &

Triandis, 1998Triandis, 1998)) Mood is known to be differently Mood is known to be differently

experienced across cultures (experienced across cultures (Gross & John, Gross & John,

20032003)) Manipulation of positive mood in Manipulation of positive mood in

individual and collected contextsindividual and collected contexts

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

How do differences in explicit and How do differences in explicit and implicit wellbeing arise?implicit wellbeing arise?

Do culturally consistent notions of Do culturally consistent notions of wellbeing exist in East Asian and wellbeing exist in East Asian and European Australians?European Australians?

Do implicit measures of wellbeing Do implicit measures of wellbeing reflect such culturally laden notions reflect such culturally laden notions such as personal/collected wellbeing?such as personal/collected wellbeing?

MethodMethod N=116N=116

60 Asian Australians, 56 European 60 Asian Australians, 56 European AustraliansAustralians

Participants completed pen and paper Participants completed pen and paper ((Satisfaction with life scale; Satisfaction with life scale; Diener et al. 1985Diener et al. 1985)) as well as implicit measures of wellbeing as well as implicit measures of wellbeing ((ILS, Kim, 2004ILS, Kim, 2004) )

Participants then underwent one of 2 Participants then underwent one of 2 manipulation conditions (individual or manipulation conditions (individual or group manipulation of positive mood), or group manipulation of positive mood), or a control condition.a control condition.

MethodMethod

Positive mood inductionPositive mood induction

Modified Velten (Modified Velten (19681968) self statement task ) self statement task ((shortened, as used by Russell & Teasdale, 1983shortened, as used by Russell & Teasdale, 1983))

Positive mood induction lasted 6 minutesPositive mood induction lasted 6 minutes

All self statements were modified for the All self statements were modified for the group induction of positive mood; all “I” were group induction of positive mood; all “I” were altered to “We”altered to “We”

Controls did nothing for 6 minutesControls did nothing for 6 minutes

MethodMethod

After the manipulation, participants After the manipulation, participants completed pen and paper measures completed pen and paper measures of the same current mood and life of the same current mood and life satisfaction, as well as the ILS-G and satisfaction, as well as the ILS-G and ILS-U at the second time.ILS-U at the second time.

Results and DiscussionResults and Discussion

Individual Group Control

cond1

-2.00

0.00

2.00

4.00

swls

dif

f

Manipulation Effect on Self-Report SWB Measure

European AustraliansIn

crea

se in

rep

orte

d lif

e sa

tisfa

ctio

n

Manipulation Condition

Individual Group Control

2

4

0

-2

Results and DiscussionResults and Discussion

Individual Group Control

cond1

-2.00

0.00

2.00

4.00

swls

dif

f

Incr

ease

in r

epor

ted

life

satis

fact

ion

Manipulation Condition

Individual Group Control

Manipulation Effect on Self-Report SWB Measure

Asian Australians

2

4

0

-2

Results and DiscussionResults and Discussion

As expected, a personal sense of wellbeing As expected, a personal sense of wellbeing was more important in European was more important in European AustraliansAustralians

However, simply feeling positive did not However, simply feeling positive did not lead to an increase in life satisfactionlead to an increase in life satisfaction

European Australians were selective in European Australians were selective in their processing of information relevant to their processing of information relevant to wellbeingwellbeing

May reflect a top down process in May reflect a top down process in determining levels of wellbeing (determining levels of wellbeing (Diener, 1984Diener, 1984))

Results and DiscussionResults and Discussion Unexpectedly, the group induction of Unexpectedly, the group induction of

positive mood was not more salient than positive mood was not more salient than the individual induction; both had similar the individual induction; both had similar effects on life satisfaction for Asian effects on life satisfaction for Asian AustraliansAustralians

Asian Australians did not discriminate Asian Australians did not discriminate between contexts but referred to the between contexts but referred to the relative positivity of the situation when relative positivity of the situation when judging life satisfactionjudging life satisfaction

May be reflecting a bottom up approach May be reflecting a bottom up approach to wellbeing judgement (to wellbeing judgement (Diener, 1984Diener, 1984).).

Secondary AnalysisSecondary Analysis

Analyses also showed that for Asian Analyses also showed that for Asian Australians, time spent in Australia Australians, time spent in Australia was associated with higher life was associated with higher life satisfaction (r= .satisfaction (r= .33), more positive than negative levels of affect (r=. 30) and lower emotional suppression (r= -.29)

DiscussionDiscussion

The length of time lived in Australia is The length of time lived in Australia is associated with greater wellbeing for associated with greater wellbeing for Asian Australians – why is this the case?Asian Australians – why is this the case?

Scant literature on differences in migrant Scant literature on differences in migrant experience between US and Australia experience between US and Australia reveal a similar pattern: reveal a similar pattern: Rosenthal and Feldman (1990); McGrath et al. (2001)

The length of time lived in Australia is The length of time lived in Australia is associated with greater wellbeing for associated with greater wellbeing for Asian Australians – why is this the case?Asian Australians – why is this the case?

ImplicationsImplications What people report about themselves is not What people report about themselves is not

necessarily directly comparable cross necessarily directly comparable cross culturallyculturally

Culturally compatible notions of wellbeing Culturally compatible notions of wellbeing exist in collectivist and individualist culturesexist in collectivist and individualist cultures

Implicit notions of wellbeing appear to be Implicit notions of wellbeing appear to be independent of temporarily induced culturally independent of temporarily induced culturally laden information relevant to wellbeingladen information relevant to wellbeing

Australia has unique properties that does not Australia has unique properties that does not result in a disparity of wellbeing in migrantsresult in a disparity of wellbeing in migrants

NB 19/8/05NB 19/8/05

Since presentation of this data, the test Since presentation of this data, the test sample was found to be heterogenous – The sample was found to be heterogenous – The Asian Australian sample consisted of both Asian Australian sample consisted of both permanent residents of Australia who had permanent residents of Australia who had lived a considerable amount of their lives in lived a considerable amount of their lives in Australia and overseas Chinese students. Australia and overseas Chinese students.

The two groups were found to respond to the The two groups were found to respond to the manipulation differently, that is, permanent manipulation differently, that is, permanent residents’ responses resembled European residents’ responses resembled European Australians’ responses and overseas Chinese Australians’ responses and overseas Chinese showed a different pattern of response.showed a different pattern of response.

NB 19/8/05NB 19/8/05

Decision was made to re-analyse data using Decision was made to re-analyse data using only overseas Chinese participants, with only overseas Chinese participants, with more cases added to appropriately more cases added to appropriately counterbalance n across sample groups.counterbalance n across sample groups.

Results obtained using this homogenous Results obtained using this homogenous sample revealed that overseas Chinese sample revealed that overseas Chinese participants did not enhance their explicit participants did not enhance their explicit SWB on individual manipulation of positive SWB on individual manipulation of positive mood, but did so for group manipulation of mood, but did so for group manipulation of positive mood. Implicit SWB did not alter as a positive mood. Implicit SWB did not alter as a function of manipulation.function of manipulation.

NB 19/8/05NB 19/8/05 Overall picture of the results suggest a different Overall picture of the results suggest a different

explanation to the one previously discussed – for explanation to the one previously discussed – for explicit SWB, a culture appropriate notion of SWB explicit SWB, a culture appropriate notion of SWB was apparent in the two samples (European was apparent in the two samples (European Australian and Overseas Chinese) . However, for Australian and Overseas Chinese) . However, for implicit SWB, no such evidence was found.implicit SWB, no such evidence was found.

Cultures of comparable implicit SWB appear to Cultures of comparable implicit SWB appear to articulate their level of wellbeing in different and articulate their level of wellbeing in different and culture appropriate ways. The type of stimulation culture appropriate ways. The type of stimulation required to experience SWB is determined by required to experience SWB is determined by overarching cultural demands (‘cultural syndromes’, overarching cultural demands (‘cultural syndromes’, Triandis, 1998, 2001). Data also indicates that Triandis, 1998, 2001). Data also indicates that culture may be a determining factor in how people culture may be a determining factor in how people process information relevant to their SWB.process information relevant to their SWB.