Chinese psychologists, through a recent investigation, have found that individuals embracing the “lying flat” lifestyle, known as tang ping, report lower levels of life satisfaction. The research findings were published in the journal Behavioral Sciences.
The tang ping phenomenon originated in China, emerging as a form of subdued resistance to an intensely competitive environment. While some individuals actively engage in career competition and pursue material aspirations, those adopting the tang ping stance deliberately choose to minimize their needs, opting out of the struggle for promotions, premium housing, or status achieved at any cost. The literal rendering of the phrase translates to: “lying on one’s back, doing nothing and reacting to nothing.”
This movement arose as a direct response to excessive overtime, inflated housing costs, widening economic disparity, and the pervasive “996” work culture (laboring from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week) imposed upon society. Proponents of tang ping frequently cite burnout and a perceived lack of tangible rewards compensating for their strenuous efforts.
Huanhua Lu and her research group aimed to ascertain the precise relationship between the “lying flat” approach and subjective well-being. The initial study involved 960 students situated in Beijing (average age of approximately 20 years). Some participants were enrolled in highly regarded universities, while others attended colleges. The participants were asked to complete a scale measuring their inclination toward tang ping alongside a life satisfaction questionnaire.
The outcomes clearly indicate that a strong predisposition towards the “flat” way of living correlates with diminished satisfaction with life. Additionally, adherence to this tactic was observed more frequently (on average) among female participants and students attending less prestigious educational institutions.
The second phase of the research utilized the same assessments but involved 109 students who completed them on two separate occasions, spaced one month apart. The analysis uncovered a specific trend: an initial endorsement of tang ping predicted a decrease in life satisfaction one month later. Crucially, however, the reverse correlation was absent: an initial low level of satisfaction did not lead to an intensification of the “lying flat” attitude.
The conclusions lean toward the pessimistic: while renouncing ambitions may briefly serve as a coping mechanism to alleviate immediate pressure, it ultimately leads to a deterioration of psychological well-being over time.
About the Author
