Leisure and social activity participation, low negative affect, health and Chinese subjective well-being: an empirical analysis based on data from the China general social survey

As China's economy has developed rapidly, citizens' subjective well-being (SWB) has not increased correspondingly, shifting attention from economic conditions to socio-psychological factors. Participation in daily activities is widely recognized as important for quality of life, yet prior studies often focus on the direct effects of single activities, leaving limited evidence on how a broader activity portfolio relates to SWB and through which psychological pathways. Using data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS), this study constructs and tests a hypothesized chain mediation model. Cross-sectional analyses examine links among a comprehensive Leisure and Social Activity Participation Index (LSAPI), low negative affect, perceived health, and SWB. Results show a significant positive association between LSAPI and SWB. Low negative affect and perceived health each serve as significant independent mediators. In addition, a significant chain mediation pathway is identified: greater leisure and social activity participation is associated with lower negative affect, which relates to better perceived health and, in turn, higher SWB. The study thus extends activity-based SWB research by integrating behavioral, emotional, and health-related correlates within one coherent empirical framework. These findings provide preliminary evidence on psychological pathways to happiness, but remain associational rather than causal, underscoring the need for longitudinal research.