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Emotional Intelligence and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese University Students: The Role of Humor Styles

Author

Listed:
  • Mingzhu Wang

    (Beijing Normal University
    Beijing Normal University
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Hong Zou

    (Beijing Normal University
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Wenjuan Zhang

    (Wuhan University)

  • Ke Hou

    (Beijing Normal University)

Abstract

Emotional intelligence has been conceptualized as a constellation of emotional perceptions (trait emotional intelligence) or a set of skills to process emotional-related information (ability emotional intelligence). It has been found that trait emotional intelligence is a more powerful predictor of subjective well-being than is ability emotional intelligence. Although the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and well-being has been well-documented, empirical studies exploring the processes underlying this association are still limited. The present study proposed humor styles as one of the mechanisms that may help explain the relation between trait emotional intelligence and subjective well-being (indexed by life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect). A total of 462 Chinese college students completed paper-and-pencil measures of the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Humor Styles Questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale. The structural equation modeling analysis revealed that the positive influences of emotional intelligence on life satisfaction and positive affect were partially explained by students’ tendency to use self-enhancing humor. Meanwhile, the negative relation between emotional intelligence and negative affect was partially explained by their tendency to use self-defeating humor. These results suggest that humor styles represent one of the mechanisms linking emotional intelligence and subjective well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingzhu Wang & Hong Zou & Wenjuan Zhang & Ke Hou, 2019. "Emotional Intelligence and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese University Students: The Role of Humor Styles," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1163-1178, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10902-018-9982-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-9982-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dario Páez & Andrés Mendiburo Seguel & Francisco Martínez-Sánchez, 2013. "Incremental Validity of Alexithymia, Emotional Coping and Humor Style on Happiness and Psychological Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(5), pages 1621-1637, October.
    2. Clemens Tesch-Römer & Andreas Motel-Klingebiel & Martin Tomasik, 2008. "Gender Differences in Subjective Well-Being: Comparing Societies with Respect to Gender Equality," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 85(2), pages 329-349, January.
    3. Xue Zheng & David Sang & Lei Wang, 2004. "Acculturation and Subjective well-being of Chinese Students in Australia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 57-72, March.
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