<i>Supporting data for</i> <i>"</i><i>The Paradox of Anti-work: The Hidden Labor in the 'Lying Flat' Movement</i><i>"</i>

This study examines the emerging anti-work movement among young people in China, a phenomenon that contrasts sharply with the country’s deeply rooted work culture, which has long celebrated the value of hard work. The rise of the "lying flat" (pinyin: <i>tangping</i>) movement directly challenges traditional Chinese work ethics, shaped by a combination of Confucian values, socialist principles, and capitalist individualism. This research seeks to understand why career-driven professionals are choosing to abandon their jobs, despite the potential risks to their long-term career paths and professional reputations. Drawing on 27 months of fieldwork (from June 2021 to September 2023) within three Douban groups that advocate anti-work ideologies, this study employs interviews, surveys, and textual analysis to provide an in-depth understanding of why individuals leave their jobs and how these decisions have transformed their lives. The data files include 30 semi-structured interviews and a survey of 214 respondents.