Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study investigates the role of quality of life (QOL) in enhancing psychological well-being (PWB) among young adults in transitional, collectivist societies, with particular attention to contemporary China. To advance understanding of how diverse support systems nfluence youths' well-being, this study departs from recent literature that often conflates family support (FS) and social support (SS), and instead hypothetically distinguishes FS as a structural resource rooted in familial relationships while defining SS as a broader interpersonal resource beyond family unit. METHODS: This study empirically examines the distinct mediating and moderating roles of FS and SS in the relationship between QOL and PWB, and also explores the mediating influence of FS over the relationship between SS and QOL in shaping well-being of young adults within the Chinese context. Drawing on responses of 539 young respondents and employing key statistical methods, including reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and mediation and moderation analyses, this study tests the validity of the four proposed hypotheses. RESULTS: Current results determined that QOL strongly predicted PWB, with both FS and SS acting as significant mediators. As FS accounted for 38% of the total effect, this study advocated for the lasting influence of familial ties shaped by cultural values. SS, while being facilitated through peer networks and digital platforms, compensated for weaker family ties, especially among internal migrant youth. Even in the absence of robust FS or SS, QOL remained a significant predictor of PWB. The combined effects of QOL, FS, and SS explained 52% of the variance in PWB. Notably, QOL remained a strong predictor of PWB even in the absence of robust FS or SS, thereby emphasizing the need for public investment in education, healthcare, and housing. The combined effect of QOL, FS, and SS explained 52% of the variance in PWB. CONCLUSIONS: This study pleads greater public investment in education, healthcare, and housing to support the well-being of young adults in China. Also, this study seeks to develop a youth-centric national well-being index to assist the cross-sectoral policy efforts. Importantly, FS influences PWB indirectly through its impact on SS, rather than through direct moderation. This distinction calls for the necessity of separating immediate familial support from broader societal networks when evaluating PWB in non-Western contexts.