Abstract: Based on China Family Panel Studies（CFPS）data in 2018, the relationship between social isolation, loneliness and happiness of rural residents was analyzed. The robustness test of the effect relationship among the three was performed by using the propensity value matching and structural equation model. The results showed that social isolation could significantly improve the loneliness and reduce the happiness of rural residents; loneliness played a partial intermediary role in the relationship between social isolation and happiness of rural residents, that was, social isolation reduced individual happiness by improving loneliness; through the heterogeneity analysis of rural residents with different family income levels, it was concluded that the impact of social isolation on happiness of low-income groups was far less than that of medium and high-income groups. Based on this, the government should introduce relevant policies to prevent the social isolation and loneliness of rural residents in advance, improve the quality of social capital of rural residents, ensure good social relations and social networks, and reduce the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the happiness of rural residents.

Key words: happiness of rural residents, social isolation, loneliness