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Quiet Ego Intervention Enhances Flourishing by Increasing Quiet Ego Characteristics and Trait Emotional Intelligence: A Randomized Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Guanyu Liu

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Linda M. Isbell

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Michael J. Constantino

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Bernhard Leidner

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Abstract

The quiet ego—a personality construct characterized by empathy, inclusivity, non-defensiveness, and growth-mindedness in self-other relations—correlates positively with varied health markers. There is also emerging evidence that quiet-ego-based interventions may have a positive impact on health-related outcomes. However, no research has examined whether such interventions promote psychological flourishing and through what mechanisms. We addressed this gap with a randomized longitudinal experiment, hypothesizing that a quiet ego contemplation would improve participants’ flourishing and that the link between the intervention and flourishing would be mediated by higher trait emotional intelligence (EI). Using Amazon MTurk, we randomly assigned 75 participants to a 3-session intervention or control condition. As hypothesized, participants in the intervention condition reported higher trait EI scores that, in turn, elevated their flourishing. Results extend the causal benefits of brief quiet ego interventions to psychological flourishing. Given the study’s context during the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings may have implications for mitigating the negative impact of the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-022-00560-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00560-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heidi Wayment & Jack Bauer & Kateryna Sylaska, 2015. "The Quiet Ego Scale: Measuring the Compassionate Self-Identity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 999-1033, August.
    2. Heidi A. Wayment & Jack J. Bauer, 2018. "The Quiet Ego: Motives for Self-Other Balance and Growth in Relation to Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 881-896, March.
    3. Ed Diener & Derrick Wirtz & William Tov & Chu Kim-Prieto & Dong-won Choi & Shigehiro Oishi & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2010. "New Well-being Measures: Short Scales to Assess Flourishing and Positive and Negative Feelings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(2), pages 143-156, June.
    4. 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.
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