The Chinese Version of the Subjective Happiness Scale: Validation and Convergence With Multidimensional Measures

Abstract

This article aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS-C) and to investigate the convergence between SHS-C and multidimensional subjective well-being (MSWB). A total of 543 college students completed the following measures: the SHS-C, the MSWB scale, Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, and the interpersonal harmony scale. The SHS-C showed adequate internal consistent reliability and test–retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed a one-factor structure of the SHS-C, and multigroup CFA showed factor invariance between gender groups. Subjective happiness, as measured by the SHS-C, and MSWB, as measured by life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect, were highly correlated (above .90), suggesting convergent validity. The SHS-C was also correlated with two theoretically different but related constructs, self-esteem and interpersonal harmony, providing evidence of criterion-related validity. The results provide preliminary evidence that the SHS-C is valid with a Chinese-speaking population and that the SHS-C and MSWB may be interchangeable.