Psychological Development and Education ›› 2017, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (1): 95-104.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2017.01.11

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The Relationship Between Character Strengths and Subjective Well-being among College Students: The Roles of Strengths Use and Stressful Life Events

WANG Huanzhen1,2, JIANG Qi1,2, HOU Lulu1,2   

  1. 1. Mental Health Research Center of Southwest University, Chongqing 400715;
    2. Faculty of Psychological Science of Southwest University, Chongqing 400715
  • Online:2017-01-15 Published:2017-01-15

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Abstract: This study aimed to explore the relationship of character strengths, strengths use, stressful life events and subjective well-being. A total of 800 students of two universities from Chongqing and Henan Province completed the questionnaires measuring character strengths (CVQ-96), strengths use (SUS), subjective well-being (SWLS and PANAS) and stressful life events (ASLEC). Structural equation modeling (SEM) results showed that:(1) strengths use partially mediated the relationship between character strengths and subjective well-being. Character strengths not only had a direct influence on subjective well-being, but also indirectly influenced subjective well-being through strengths use; (2) stressful life events moderated the mediation of strengths use. The relationship between strengths use and subjective well-being was stronger for college students with high stressful life events than those with low stressful life events. Therefore, strengths use played a moderated mediating role in the relationship between character strengths and subjective well-being.

Key words: character strengths, strengths use, stressful life events, subjective well-being, college students

CLC Number: 

  • B844

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