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Are More Intelligent People Happier? Emotional Intelligence as Mediator between Need for Relatedness, Happiness and Flourishing

Author

Listed:
  • Antonino Callea

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Dalila De Rosa

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Giovanni Ferri

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca Lipari

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Costanzi

    (Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The psychology of sustainability and sustainable development aims to study the personal characteristics that promote effective and sustainable well-being for individuals and environments from a psychological research perspective. According to the self-determination theory, the psychological need for relatedness is positively associated with happiness and flourishing. In turn, emotional intelligence, i.e., understanding and managing one’s own emotions and recognizing others’ emotions, may play a key role in this association. Therefore, the present study investigates the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between need for relatedness and both happiness and flourishing. Basic Psychological Needs scales (BPNs), Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), Flourishing Scale, and Happiness Scale were administered to 216 Italian participants (age range 15–66 years old). A mediation model via a structural equation model for path analysis was tested. The results showed that the psychological need for relatedness positively associated with both happiness and flourishing and that emotional intelligence mediated these associations. These results suggest that important interventions may be performed to promote flourishing and happiness, enhancing emotional intelligence through specific training differently from need for relatedness that, instead, can be considered substantially stable.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonino Callea & Dalila De Rosa & Giovanni Ferri & Francesca Lipari & Marco Costanzi, 2019. "Are More Intelligent People Happier? Emotional Intelligence as Mediator between Need for Relatedness, Happiness and Flourishing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:4:p:1022-:d:206416
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    1. Guanyu Liu & Linda M. Isbell & Michael J. Constantino & Bernhard Leidner, 2022. "Quiet Ego Intervention Enhances Flourishing by Increasing Quiet Ego Characteristics and Trait Emotional Intelligence: A Randomized Experiment," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3605-3623, October.
    2. Ana Cebollero-Salinas & Jacobo Cano-Escoriaza & Santos Orejudo, 2022. "Social Networks, Emotions, and Education: Design and Validation of e-COM, a Scale of Socio-Emotional Interaction Competencies among Adolescents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Jiali Zhang & Huamei Deng & Tiantian Liu & Shoukuan Mu, 2023. "Self-experience consistency and life satisfaction: The mediating role of the need for relatedness and the moderating role of Zhong-yong thinking," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    4. Emily A. Paskewitz, 2021. "Exploring the Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Family Farm Member Conflict Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Joan Guerra-Bustamante & Benito León-del-Barco & Rocío Yuste-Tosina & Víctor M. López-Ramos & Santiago Mendo-Lázaro, 2019. "Emotional Intelligence and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.

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