Comparing the happiness of Chinese undergraduates in H.K., U.K., U.S.A. and Australia

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to compare the happiness of Chinese undergraduates in H.K., U.K., U.S.A. and Australia. Using chain-referral sampling and email questionnaire, a total sample of 471 Chinese undergraduates (151 from Hong Kong, 94 from U.S.A., 71 from Australia and 101 from U.K.) were examined. It was found that students in H.K. are the most unhappy group in comparison with the other three areas. This paper tried to explain the difference in the current happiness of Chinese undergraduates in the four areas with six variables, namely, the happiness of students with their academic performance; the subjective positive mindset of students; the concern of students about other people’s view; the ability of students to explore their potential; gender and household income. The empirical results showed that the current happiness of students depends on (1) their happiness with their academic performance in the case of H.K., U.K. and Australia but not in U.S.A.; (2) the students’ subjective positive mindset in all four areas; (3) other peoples’ views about them in case of H.K. and U.K. but not in U.S.A. and Australia; (4) their ability to explore their potential in case of U.S.A. but not in the other three areas. In all four areas, the current happiness of undergraduates did not depend on their household income or gender.